PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Providence police are investigating a stabbing at Rhode Island Hospital where two security guards were hurt early Friday morning.
Commander Timothy O’Hara said 39-year-old Manuel Gouveia was being escorted out of the waiting area just before 2 a.m. for a disturbance when he pulled out a straight-edged razor blade and assaulted two security guards.
“The hospital’s Providence Police detail was on scene and quickly apprehended the assailant,” a spokesperson for Lifespan told 12 News. “Thankfully, the officers were not seriously injured, and we thank them for keeping our staff and other patients safe.”
The guards suffered lacerations, O’Hara said, one above the ear and one behind the neck. They were treated for their injuries.
WATCH: Manuel Gouveia’s arraignment (Story continues below.)
Gouveia was pulled away from the guards, then treated for injuries before being brought to the police station. He was charged with two counts of felony assault.
No plea was entered at an arraignment on Friday morning. A judge asked for Gouveia to undergo a mental evaluation.
Court records show Gouveia has active assault cases in Providence and East Providence. Because he violated probation, he was ordered held as a violator.
He is due back in court next month.
Lifespan confirmed the guards involved work for Allied Universal Security Services. A Allied Universal spokesperson told 12 News the company was “disheartened” over the “senseless and unprovoked act of violence.”
“Allied Universal is dedicated to the safety of our clients, their customers, our employees and the public, and we will cooperate with the local authorities as they conduct their investigation of the perpetrator,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
Lynn Blais, a registered nurse and president of the United Nurses and Allied Professionals union, told 12 News hospitals are in desperate need of more security measures.
“If I go to PPAC and I go to a game at Gillette, I go to the courthouse, I go to the State House; I have to go through a metal detector,” Blais told 12 News. “We don’t protect our healthcare workers the way we protect our legislators, our judges and the general public when they need to go to an entertainment venue.
A Lifespan spokesperson confirmed safety changes are in the works.
A plan to install metal detector at RI Hospital’s Emergency Department had been in motion prior to Friday morning’s incident, according to a spokesperson.
“You can’t come to work every day being afraid that you’re going to get hurt,” Blais said. “You need to come to work do your job, and take care of the patients that we need to take care of without thinking today is the day I’m going to be the one that’s injured.”
