Felony assault charges have been lodged against an out-of-control patient at UPMC Williamsport after he became combative with staff in his room in the medical center’s East Wing about 11:40 p.m. on Jan 7, it was alleged in an affidavit filed by hospital police at the office of District Judge Aaron Biichle.

After pulling out all medical lines from his body, Travis A. Bashista ran into a bathroom, but quickly came back out and was assisted by two nurses as he went to the floor, police said. “He placed his arm around one of the nurse’s shoulders and then closed his arm around her head and neck, putting her in a headlock,” it was alleged.

Bashista, 28, of 117 Green Pine Road Extension, Montgomery, refused to release his grip on the nurse, who could not break free until a male nurse entered the room, grabbed Bashita’s arm and forced it up, thereby allowing the nurse to slip her head out, police were told. Additional medical staff, as well as security officers and police officers, responded to the room and restraints were put on Bashista after he was moved from the floor to his bed, police said.

He became infuriated and suddenly broke his right arm free and tried to punch one of the officers, the affidavit stated. He yelled and “called everyone various names, making physical threats of violence” as he kicked and flailed about, trying to break free, police said.

At one point, Bashista grabbed one of the officer’s service revolvers, “trying to remove it from its holster,” police said. He also managed to thrust both his knees into another officer’s groin area, “causing the officer to immediately feel sick like he was going to throw up,” it was alleged in the court document. A doctor in the room told staff, “It was clear that Bashista was aware of where he was and what he was doing,” the affidavit stated.

Bashista, who has since been discharged, was arraigned Monday before District Judge Aaron Biichle on four felony counts of aggravated assault, one felony count of assaulting a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, terroristic threats, simple assault and disorderly conduct. He was released on $75,000 bail.