Homicide Investigation Underway After Patient's Death at Johns Hopkins Hospital

Baltimore Police have classified the death of 63-year-old Paul Bertonazzi as a homicide, following an incident that occurred while he was hospitalized for a psychiatric evaluation. Bertonazzi was admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital in January and passed away days later from injuries that included a severed spine.

According to a police incident report, Bertonazzi had been in police custody prior to his hospitalization, where he complained of neck pain. An autopsy revealed he had a preexisting spinal condition known as ankylosing spondylitis, which renders the spine brittle. However, evidence indicated that he had been moving freely before his admission to the hospital.

Steve Markey, an attorney representing Bertonazzi's family, stated that body camera footage from police indicated that officers provided appropriate care during their interaction with him. Markey noted that the family is still seeking answers regarding the circumstances that led to Bertonazzi's severe injuries while at the hospital.

On January 5, police were called to a Burger King in Baltimore where Bertonazzi was experiencing a behavioral crisis. After determining he required an emergency psychiatric evaluation, officers transported him to Johns Hopkins Hospital. The incident report details that Bertonazzi had been handcuffed and expressed pain in his neck during the transport.

Upon arrival at the hospital, Bertonazzi was placed in a wheelchair and taken into the emergency room. However, once in the psychiatric ward, security personnel attempted to remove his handcuffs, which resulted in him becoming unresponsive and later declared in critical condition.

Markey emphasized the need for clarity on what transpired at the hospital, as the family remains troubled by the nature of Bertonazzi's injuries. The Johns Hopkins Hospital has acknowledged the incident and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

Reported by HarborBeat based on thebanner.com (source).