Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A man named Benjamin Franklin Cunningham, aged 36, found himself in police custody following accusations of assaulting two nurses, spitting at another individual, and causing damage to a security door at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital.

On December 9, around midday, an officer from the Gainesville Police Department was dispatched to the hospital at 6500 W. Newberry Road. The incident reportedly unfolded when Cunningham, upon being discharged from a secure area, became furious.

Authorities claim that Cunningham lashed out by kicking a door leading to the nursing station, inflicting damage exceeding $1,000 to both the door and its lock. Subsequently, he allegedly attacked a nurse, attempting to choke him. Although the nurse managed to fend off Cunningham, he sustained injuries to his neck.

In response, another nurse, along with several other staff members, rushed to intervene. While they were able to subdue Cunningham, the second nurse ended up with a wrist injury during the scuffle.

After being handcuffed by the officer, Cunningham continued yelling and threatening staff, and at one point, he allegedly took a chewed-up plastic medical item from his mouth and threw it at a third victim.

Cunningham, who is described as homeless on the arrest report, has been charged with felony property damage and three counts of battery on medical personnel. He has six felony convictions (two violent) and 17 misdemeanor convictions (four violent); Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $200,000 and ordered a mental health evaluation.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.