Oakland police arrested a 49-year-old man early Friday morning after he burst into Children’s Hospital in Oakland brandishing a gun and took a nurse hostage minutes after an attempted carjacking, Oakland police said.
Cottrell Broadnax, an Oakland resident, was arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment, possessing a firearm as an ex-felon and attempted carjacking, Oakland police Officer Jeff Thomason said.
Officers quickly responded to the hospital around 3:30 a.m., and Broadnax surrendered after police formed a perimeter of patrol rifle officers, police said. There were no injuries reported during the incident.
Hospital spokeswoman Erin Goldsmith said when Broadnax entered the hospital he “appeared to be disturbed or disoriented,” but he did not have his gun drawn as he strode past the trauma center’s front desk.
“It all happened really fast,” said Goldsmith, who said only eight minutes elapsed between when Broadnax entered the emergency room and when Oakland police apprehended him.
As for the nurse held hostage by Broadnax, Goldsmith said “she really responded admirably and professionally.”
While Goldsmith said the response time of police and the hospital’s internal security was appropriate, the hospital was taking measures to ensure safety in the future.
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