Shock Video: Inmate Punches Public Defender in Head During Court Hearing

By Fox News. A Florida public defender was taken to the hospital after an inmate approached her from behind and punched her in the head during a bond hearing at the Broward County courthouse on Wednesday.

Assistant public defender Julie Chase was standing next to a female when William Green — who was in court for one count of touch or strike battery — walked up to the attorney from behind and punched her in the head, WSVN reported.

Broward county jail inmate punches public defender in bond court. PD rushed to the hospital.. working story ⁦@wsvn⁩ pic.twitter.com/uY83wgN8jb

— Brandon Beyer (@beyernews) March 27, 2019

A video showed Chase falling to the floor next to the courtroom podium after Green swung his left fist. Courtroom bailiffs rushed in and appeared to tackle the inmate to the ground as Chase got up and walked away from the scene. . .

It’s unclear why the inmate attacked Chase.

Broward Judge Jackie Powell was looking through documents pertaining to Walker’s case when the incident occurred. Powell looked at the monitor and asked, “What happened?” to which another public defender suggested a recess. (Read more from “Shock Video: Inmate Punches Public Defender in Head During Court Hearing” HERE)

___________________________________________________________

Public Defender Punched by Inmate in Broward Courthouse

By Miami News 7. [William] 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.

“If he did something in the hospital, that’s where they’re supposed to keep him to give him injection or medication, restrain him,” Sharon Green, William Green’s mother, said.

Howard Finkelstein, Chase’s boss, agrees with Green’s mother.

“Had the officer followed the law and allowed Mr. Green to continue treatment for his psychosis, the incident would not have occurred,” Finkelstein wrote in a letter to Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony. “Mentally ill persons who commit minor criminal offenses in Baker Act facilities should not be arrested and transported to the jail. What happened today should not have happened and should never happen again.”

According to the arrest report, Green was admitted to the hospital “due to his severe violent history.” (Read more from “Public Defender Punched by Inmate in Broward Courthouse” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE