VERO BEACH — An intoxicated woman is accused of punching a deputy in the face after an altercation at a local hospital. The deputy punched back and left the woman with a broken nose, officials said.
Deborah Jane Arkison, 43, of Connecticut, was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and disorderly intoxication. She is being held at the Indian River County Jail on $3,500 bond.
Deputies at 3 a.m. Wednesday went to the Indian River Medical Center, 1000 36th Street, in response to a disturbance. A nurse in charge told deputies a heavily intoxicated patient was trying to leave the hospital.
The nurse said the patient, later identified as Arkison, had been taken to the hospital after she got an injury while intoxicated. Details on the injury were not available.
Deputies described Arkison as a teacher, but details on the school she works at were not available.
Deputies saw Arkison speaking with nurses and immediately noticed she had a slurred speech, glassy bloodshot eyes and a lack of balance. Arkison was “speaking very loudly using obscenities” and had continuously told staff she was leaving the hospital with or without permission.
When nurses told Arkison she couldn’t leave because of her intoxicated state, Arkison said deputies would have to take her to jail. Deputies escorted Arkison back to her room, where she continued to yell and insist that she was leaving.
The two deputies were guarding the door when Arkison lunged toward one of them and punched the deputy in the face, officials said. The injured deputy tried to grab onto Arkison in self-defense and Arkison tried to punch him again.
The deputy punched Arkison in the face with a closed fist and she fell backwards onto the hospital bed. The injued deputy had a swollen lip and redness to his face. An X-ray showed Arkison, who was bleeding, had a broken nose, officials said.
Arkison was given treatment, arrested and taken to the county jail for booking.