A Brewton man who grabbed a medical professional in a sexual manner at West Florida Hospital on Aug. 2 faces a felony battery charge.
Jimmie Wayne Merchant, 38, 604 Snowden Street, was a patient at West Florida Hospital in Pensacola when he allegedly grabbed the groin area of a medical professional, according to an Escambia County (Fla.) Cheriff's Office report.
The victim stated she was leaning out of a patient's doorway to ask another employee for a remote to adjust the television for another patient when Merchant reached underneath and grabbed her vagina and pulled his hand backwards in a wiping motion as his hand went up her butt crack, the report said.
The victim stated she was wearing a long dress with flexible fabric and Merchant's hand did not go up her dress and no penetration occurred. She told law enforcement she then turned around quickly and told Merchant that he did not need to touch her, according to the report.
The victim quickly notified her superiors and filed an internal report with the hospital.
Law enforcement investigated and located a male with the same name as Merchant whose last four social security digits matched in the state of Alabama, the report stated. The victim was presented with a photo line-up Aug. 11 and she was able to positively identify Merchant.
The victim at the time of the incident was authorized by West Florida to perform duties directly associated with the care and treatment rendered by the hospital's emergency department, the report said.
Based on the victim's positive identification of Merchant, an arrest warrant was issued.
Merchant was arrested Nov. 7 and charged with one count felony battery on a medical professional and transported to Escambia County Jail, where he was given a $5,000 bond.
