Public defender punched by inmate in Broward Courthouse
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A public defender was transported to the hospital after she was punched by an inmate at the Broward County Courthouse.
Veteran defender Julie Chase was alongside a female defendant during morning bond court when another inmate walked up and punched her in the head, Wednesday.
Brandon Beyer@beyernews
Broward county jail inmate punches public defender in bond court. PD rushed to the hospital.. working story
@wsvn
The inmate, who was identified as 27-year-old William Green, was then restrained by deputies and carried away.
Green was already facing a charge of touch or strike battery after he allegedly punched an employee of Florida Medical Center while being held under Florida’s Baker Act law.
According to the arrest report, Green was admitted to the hospital “due to his severe violent history.”
“Out of nowhere, defendant Green rushed [the employee] from behind, grabbing him around the waist with both arms and drug him into the hall,” the report stated.
Charges for the Wednesday morning incident are currently pending.
“It was very unfortunate and our hearts go out to her because she’s carrying the good weight of our office every single day trying to represent folks in that very difficult environment,” said Public Defender Gordon Weeks. “That is totally inappropriate and not what is to be expected of your job as a public defender. The jail needs to take a little more precautions when it comes to the safety of individuals, particularly the public defenders that are placed in that environment. They should have been able to identify that this individual is experiencing a significant psychosis. The jail needs to be a little more mindful of identifying individuals with significant and ongoing and pervasive mental illness, and they need to take more appropriate steps to ensure that those that are present are in a safe environment.”
It is also unclear why Chase was punched in the first place.
Chase was taken to the hospital to be evaluated and has since been released. The full extent of Chase’s injury remains unclear. The public defender has since returned home and is said to be resting.
7News has reached out to the Broward Sheriff’s Office but we have yet to hear back.