Maplewood Hospital Patient Dies After Handcuffed

MAPLEWOOD, Minn. (AP) -- A Twin Cities area hospital patient who allegedly attacked nurses died after police handcuffed him.

Maplewood Police Chief Paul Schnell says that the 68-year-old man assaulted four nurses with a metal pole at 2:00 a.m. Sunday at St. John's Hospital.

One suffered a collapsed lung, the other's injuries ranged a fractured wrist to cuts and bruises.

Police found the man three blocks away and ordered him to drop the bar, but he refused.

A Taser device did not stop him and two Ramsey County sheriff deputies and a Maplewood police officer took him to the ground and handcuffed him.

Moments later, the suspect was unresponsive.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal of Apprehension is investigating.

The deputies and officer were put on standard leave in accordance with policy.