Charges Filed Against Woman in Crisis Wielding Knife at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Olmsted County Attorney’s Office has charged the woman who is accused of bringing a knife into a Rochester hospital and threatening harm to herself and others. 

Read More: Woman in Crisis Armed With Knife Prompts Lockdown at Mayo Clinic Hospital's ER

The incident occurred Tuesday night. Rochester Police Lt. Jennifer Hodgeman previously stated the woman appeared to have been going through a mental health crisis. 

A criminal complaint, filed in Olmsted County Court On Thursday, reveals new information regarding the incident that prompted the emergency department at St. Mary’s Hospital to go into lockdown. 

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The charges say a woman identified as 24-year-old Siara Pries of Plainview entered the hospital, brandished a knife and held the knife to her throat while yelling threats to harm to herself and others unless she received assistance. 

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Police said she walked into the emergency department around 8:30 p.m. A security officer stationed at the entrance rushed Pries from behind in an attempt to subdue and disarm her once she brandished the knife, according to the complaint. 

The court filing says Pries resisted and used the knife to slash the top of the security guard’s hand during the struggle. The court document also accuses her of biting the guard. 

Multiple staff members then rushed in and were able to disarm and subdue Pries. The guard had two slash marks on his left hand and a bite mark on his right hand, the complaint states. 

Police say Pries was evaluated at the hospital then taken to the Olmsted County Jail once she was medically cleared. 

On Thursday Pries was arraigned on a felony second-degree assault charge and two misdemeanor fifth-degree assault charges. 

An Olmsted County judge set her bail at $50,000 without conditions. 

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