Patient Faces Arrest in Choking Incident
A 25-year-old Oxnard man being treated at the county’s Behavioral Health Department in Ventura faces arrest after nurses found him choking his roommate, police said Friday.
Police could not identify the men because of confidentiality laws, said Ventura Police Lt. David Inglis. The victim is a 47-year-old transient.
Nurses told police they were making their rounds about 6:30 p.m. Thursday when they saw the man choking his roommate on the floor. The man apparently attacked the victim as he slept, police said.
“He choked him hard enough his heart stopped,” Inglis said.
The victim was taken to Ventura County Medical Center, where doctors revived him, and returned to the mental health ward, police said.
The suspect also remained at the ward under evaluation. Inglis said the man will be arrested on suspicion of attempted murder when he is released by doctors later today.
Police have not been able to question either man and have no information on the motive, Inglis said.
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