4:20 PM: A 29-year-old man pleaded not guilty today to three felony charges in connection with an alleged attack of an elderly woman at San Francisco General Hospital last Friday, prosecutors said.
Orin Zebest pleaded not guilty to two felony assault charges and one count of elder abuse for the attack, which occurred at about 10:05 p.m. Friday, district attorney’s office spokesman Alex Bastian said.
Hospital officials said Zebest was on a psychiatric hold and was being transferred from the main emergency room to the psychiatric emergency room when he assaulted Mary Perez, an elderly woman who was also an emergency room patient.
Zebest had initially also been booked on suspicion of attempted murder but was later rebooked on the assault and elder abuse allegations, sheriff’s spokeswoman Susan Fahey said.
San Francisco General Hospital officials released a statement about the incident, saying they are “profoundly sorry that Ms. Perez was injured while in our care. We take patient safety very seriously and are reviewing our procedures.”
Zebest remains in jail in lieu of $225,000 bail and is scheduled to return to court on March 13 for a pre-hearing conference, Bastian said.
12:47 PM: A 29-year-old man is set to be arraigned this afternoon on three felony charges after allegedly attacking an elderly woman in the emergency room at San Francisco General Hospital last Friday, hospital officials said today.
The suspect, identified by the sheriff’s department as Orin Zebest, assaulted Mary Perez, an elderly woman who was also an emergency room patient, at about 10:05 p.m. Friday, according to a statement from the hospital.
At the time of the attack, Zebest was on a psychiatric hold and was being transferred from the main emergency room to the psychiatric emergency room by nursing staff, hospital officials said.
Perez is still in the hospital and is in good condition despite the attack, hospital spokeswoman Rachael Kagan said.
Zebest has been charged with two counts of assault and one count of elder abuse, district attorney’s office spokesman Alex Bastian said. He will be in court at 1:30 p.m. at the Hall of Justice for arraignment.
Zebest had also initially been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but was later rebooked into jail on the assault and elder abuse allegations, sheriff’s spokeswoman Susan Fahey said.
The hospital’s statement said, “San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center is profoundly sorry that Ms. Perez was injured while in our care. We take patient safety very seriously and are reviewing our procedures.”
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
