A Florida man facing battery charges is now facing more charges after appearing to punch a defense attorney Wednesday.
Per a Local 10 report, assistant public defender Julie Chase was looking down at her papers while appearing before Judge Jackie Powell when 27-year-old William Green walked up behind her and hit her in the head, knocking Chase to the ground.
Powell, noticing a commotion from the video feed, asked, “What happened?”
Broward Sheriff’s Office corrections deputies then grabbed Green, restrained him and escorted him out of the room.
The court went to recess.
Chase was taken to the hospital for treatment and is doing “OK” following the incident.
“I didn’t expect it, but I’m doing OK,” she told Local 10 upon leaving Broward Health Medical Center.
Green was reportedly arrested Tuesday for allegedly attacking a mental hospital employee, which called into question why the man was not restrained at the time of his attack on Chase.
“It seemed like there was a serious breakdown in the jail’s ability to identify someone’s mental illness and the seriousness of their illness,” assistant chief public defender Gordon Weekes stated.
Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony issued the following statement:
It’s troubling that an inmate would assault an officer of the court. I’ve reviewed the footage of the bond court incident and have gone over the facts with command staff in the Department of Detention. I learned that over the last several years, BSO has received numerous requests from the public defender’s office asking for a more lax approach to our security procedures during magistrate hearings, which take place through a closed-circuit television feed from inside the jail.
Although I understand their concern that having deputies standing close to the inmates or having them wear handcuffs or shackles could imply guilt, they must in turn understand that their requests made it possible for this unusual situation to occur,” Tony continued. “As the senior ranking law enforcement official for Broward County, I am obligated to ensure all policies related to the protection and safety of our court officials are enforced. Effective immediately, all inmates will be handcuffed during these proceedings as to reduce the ability of an inmate to cause similar harm or greater. The safety of my fellow criminal justice practitioners is of the highest priority.
Follow Trent Baker on Twitter @MagnifiTrent
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