Austin North, who stars in the Netflix series “Outer Banks”, has been arrested for allegedly assaulting hospital staff in Las Vegas. He says he was having a severe anxiety attack and has no memory of the incident.
According to a police report, North was taken to the University Medical Center Hospital on Tuesday morning by a friend who thought he was having a heart attack. However, once he arrived at the emergency department, he became violent and attacked three hospital workers.
He allegedly punched a nurse in the face, shoved another nurse by the face, and pushed a phlebotomist, who was trying to draw his blood. The phlebotomist then grabbed a metal tray and hit North in the forehead, knocking him down. Security guards then restrained North and called the police.
The police arrived at the scene and interviewed the victims and the witnesses. They also asked North if he remembered what happened, but he said he had no recollection of any of the events. He was then arrested and charged with three counts of battery on a protected person, which is a gross misdemeanor.
The actor’s statement on the incident
North, who plays Topper Thornton in “Outer Banks”, a show about teenagers searching for a lost treasure, has issued a statement through his lawyer, saying that he was having a severe anxiety attack and that he did not intend to harm anyone.
He said that he has been suffering from anxiety for years and that this was the most extreme panic attack he ever had. He said that he has the utmost respect for healthcare workers and hospital staff and that he is deeply upset by the events that took place.
He also said that tests showed that there were no drugs or alcohol in his system and that he has very little memory of the incident. He said that he hopes to resolve the matter as soon as possible and that he apologizes to anyone who was affected by his actions.
The reaction from the hospital and the fans
The hospital spokesman, Scott Kerbs, said that he could not comment on the details of the patient interactions, but that he condemned any violence against the healthcare professionals, who are the community heroes who devote their careers to helping others.
He said that the hospital is committed to maintaining the safest possible environment for its team members, patients and visitors, and that it is cooperating with the authorities on the investigation.
Meanwhile, some of the fans of North have expressed their support and sympathy for him on social media, saying that they hope he gets the help he needs and that they understand that he was going through a difficult time.
However, some others have criticized him for his behavior and said that he should face the consequences of his actions. They said that he should not use his anxiety as an excuse for assaulting the hospital staff, who were only doing their job.
