Charges: Alexandria Man Choked St. Cloud Hospital Employee With Wires

ST. CLOUD (AP) - An Alexandria man is facing a second-degree assault charge for allegedly attacking and trying to strangle a mental health worker at St. Cloud Hospital with an electrical cord.

Forty-two-year-old William Chad Kern is accused of attacking the woman while she was working with him Sunday. Kern had been civilly committed and ordered to complete treatment at the hospital.

The worker says Kern became upset after she wouldn't give him a CPAP breathing device and allegedly ripped a security card reader from the wall.

Authorities say Kern returned to his room with wires from the device, grabbed the worker and began to choke her. Hospital personnel eventually intervened.

A judge has ordered Kern undergo a mental competency evaluation. It's unclear whether he has an attorney.