Atascadero State Hospital patient arrested after attacks

UPDATE 12:30 p.m. Friday: The two assaults — of a patient and of a hospital police officer — reportedly took place in related incidents, the Department of State Hospitals confirmed Friday.

Montoya Nichols allegedly attacked another patient in a dorm room, and then moved into another room where hospital staff and police officers attempted to talk to him. He then reportedly struck the officer.

Original story: A 23-year-old Atascadero State Hospital patient was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly assaulted another patient and a hospital police officer, according to a statement issued Thursday afternoon by ASH spokeswoman Jessica Biro.

As of Thursday, Montoya Nichols, 23, remained in custody on a $50,000 bond. Nichols was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of felony assault, felony resisting and misdemeanor battery charges and booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail.

ASH isn't allowed to disclose the names of its patients. But when patients are arrested, their identities become public through jail records.

The incident occurred just after 10 p.m. Monday when Nichols allegedly assaulted another patient in a dorm room. The victim suffered head and facial injuries, the statement said. Nichols also reportedly struck a hospital police officer several times in the face, according to the statement, which didn't identify Nichols by name. It wasn't immediately clear Thursday if the attacks occurred during the same incident.

The victims, whose names were not disclosed, were treated for their injuries at outside hospitals. No additional details were released.

ASH is a high-security state hospital that treats mentally ill male inmates from the correctional system and other violent offenders. It's one of five such facilities in the state.

This story was originally published November 20, 2014 at 3:50 PM with the headline "Atascadero State Hospital patient arrested after attacks."