Arrests.
Anthony Wilkerson, of the 8500 block of Lyons Place, Philadelphia, allegedly pulled the nurse by her hair through a cell door, causing injury and prompting felony assault charges
A Philadelphia man has been charged by Montgomery County detectives with felony assault by a prisoner, aggravated assault and misdemeanor reckless endangerment for allegedly attacking a female nurse at Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Lower Providence.
Investigators allege in a complaint that the alleged assault by Anthony Wilkerson, 34, of the 8500 block of Lyons Place, was captured on surveillance on March 13 at 7:20 a.m. Detectives were assigned to investigate the reported assault on March 25, with the defendant officially charged April 1, according to the affidavit.
Police said a corrections officer was escorting the victim, who is employed by Prime Care Medical and contracted by the county to provide medical services to inmates, through a section of the jail for medicine distribution.
As she approached Wilkerson’s cell, she is heard on camera saying, “Good morning, how are you?” and then asks for his name, police said. She then turned her head to hear Wilkerson, but he allegedly reached his left arm out of the cell, over the medical cart, and grabbed a handful of the victim’s hair and shook her.
The nurse began screaming, causing the corrections officer to intervene and order Wilkerson to release her, police said. For eight more seconds, Wilkerson pulls the victim toward the cell and against the cart, according to investigators.
Police allege the victim was lifted off her feet while Wilkerson pulled her hair, before officers broke his hold.
The victim suffered head and neck pain from the assault and was further treated at an outside medical facility for a head injury and cervical strain, missing a week of work, according to the complaint.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
