Pontotoc man faces attempted rape charge after attacking hospital employee

New Albany police have charged a Pontotoc man with attempted rape after he assaulted an employee at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County.

The accused is Dana Marquise Woods, 23.

Police Chief Chris Robertson said the incident happened about 5 a.m. Monday.

“We got a 911 call from Baptist Memorial Hospital that a female employee had been assaulted and officers were dispatched,” he said.

Apparently, the suspect had been brought to the hospital by family members for mental evaluation, the chief said.

“The employee was at the entrance taking temperatures for admittance,” Robertson said. “Mr. Woods walked up, threw down his cigarette and hit the employee in the back of the head.”

There was no provocation, the chief said.

As the suspect continued his attack he stated that he was going to physically and sexually assault the nurses and staff at the hospital, the chief said. “Obviously, he may have been having some sort of psychotic episode.”

Hospital security arrived and got the suspect off the employee and as officers arrived the suspect fled into the hospital. “He was taken into custody a short time later with no further incident,” the chief said.

The employee was slightly injured and shaken up but later treated and released by the hospital, he said.

Bond for Woods was set at $150,000.