Man accused of attacking staff at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside
Nassau police charged a man with attacking hospital staff members at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital on Monday. Credit: Jonathan Singh
A man was charged with assault after Nassau police said he "became irate" and attacked hospital staff at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside Monday, throwing a table at one nurse and striking another in the head with his hand.
John Prunty, 22, also struck two members of the hospital security staff when they attempted to restrain him, and tried to choke them, police said.
Responding officers arrested Prunty, charging him with multiple counts of assault, attempted assault, and criminal obstruction of breathing / blood circulation. Prunty, who is unhoused, faces arraignment when medically practicable, police said.
The incident occurred just after 7:20 p.m. when hospital staff reported to police that Prunty had become irate and was attacking staff members. It was not immediately clear why Prunty was at the hospital — or what triggered the alleged outburst.
Additional details were not immediately available, and the extent of any injuries to staff members was not known.
John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.
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