Man charged for stabbing an employee at Sutter Health’s Mills-Peninsula Medical Center in San Mateo County
Burlingame, California – A 53-year-old man is facing charges for stabbing a worker at Sutter Health’s Mills-Peninsula Medical Center in Burlingame, California, as announced by the San Mateo County prosecutors on February 9th.
The incident was first covered by The Mercury News a week ago.
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The man, Joseph Alvillar Jr., is accused of carrying out the attack in the hospital around 7 p.m. on February 7, the county’s district attorney’s office reports.
It’s claimed by the prosecutors that Alvillar, a homeless man with a background of mental health issues, walked into the hospital and took a seat. Witnesses observed Alvillar behaving oddly and muttering to himself, looking for a man in white, say the prosecutors.
A hospital worker, a 53-year-old man in a white surgical gown, approached Alvillar to offer assistance. The district attorney’s office states that Alvillar then attacked the employee, stabbing him nine times with a small knife.
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After the call, police arrested Alvillar at the scene. The wounded employee received medical care and is now in a stable condition.
The charges against Alvillar include attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and causing serious injury through battery, as reported by the Bay Area News Group.
Alvillar, held without bail, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He also chose not to give up his right to a quick preliminary hearing, which is set for February 23, according to the prosecutors.
Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health shared the following statement with Becker’s: “One of our hospital team members was involved in an incident while assisting an upset individual in the hospital’s lobby last Wednesday. Unfortunately, the team member was then attacked and injured by the assailant. Thanks to the swift actions of our protective services team, the suspect was disarmed and later taken into police custody.
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“We wish our teammate a continued quick recovery and are providing our full support. The safety and well-being of our co-workers, patients and visitors are at the core of everything we do at Sutter Health. We are committed to having industry-leading safety measures in place and doing all we can to protect everyone in our facilities.
“We will also continue to coordinate with the Burlingame Police Department’s ongoing investigation.”
