Man attacks off-duty officer in Florida hospital, ends up with bruised face
Ronald Jeffrey Johnson assaulted an off-duty Fort Lauderdale police officer inside Broward Health Medical Center, was subdued and later photographed with a swollen face.
At Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, Ronald Jeffrey Johnson shouted at medical personnel before spotting an off-duty police officer and demanding a fight. The officer, still in uniform, engaged the 51-year-old, who charged and tried to grab him, prompting a physical altercation that resulted in the officer sustaining a lacerated left hand requiring stitches. After the officer regained control, Johnson was escorted to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, cleared for treatment, and photographed for a mugshot that showed a swollen, bloodied face.
He was charged with aggravated battery on an officer, resisting an officer with violence, assault on an officer, and disorderly conduct, and is being held on an $85,000 bond. Additionally, Johnson is wanted in Georgia for missing a court date on terroristic-threat charges.
Why it matters
The incident highlights risks officers face even while off duty and underscores ongoing legal issues for the suspect.
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