Orange Park hospital employee charged with aggravated battery; struck elderly patient several times in the face

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday arrested an HCA Orange Park hospital employee charged with aggravated battery of an elderly person.

On Nov. 14, the sheriff’s office responded to the hospital regarding the assault of the patient.

Investigators said the 73-year-old patient was intentionally struck several times in the face, pushed into a wall, and knocked to the ground by a hospital employee, Anthony Diaz, 52.

The sheriff’s office said the assault was witnessed by another staff member who was in the room at the time.

Diaz was arrested Tuesday at his home and charged with aggravated battery of an elderly person and is being held on a $150,000 bond.