A St. Louis woman checked herself into a hospital complaining of stomach pains only to be manhandled and attacked by a security guard when she stepped outside for fresh air, newly released surveillance video shows.
Vanity Allen’s lawyer said the 25-year-old’s face was left bloodied as a result of the July attack, adding she has a scar near her eye, which is likely permanent. According to the Riverfront Times, Allen already had an IV port installed when she stepped outside SSM Health DePaul Hospital. Moments later, she was confronted by the security guard.
Vanity Allen said she now experiences symptoms of PTSD since being attacked by a hospital security guard. (Photo courtesy of Albert Watkins)
“This was 220 pounds of white daytime TV muscle on top of her …,” lawyer Albert Watkins told the newspaper, adding that his distressed client posed no threat. “You have a security guard with an IQ well below room temperature taking it upon himself to see that ‘justice’ is done to a 90-pound patient in distress.”
Hospital surveillance didn’t capture the initial blow, but Allen claimed the guard struck Allen over her left eye with his fist, sending her falling onto the sidewalk just outside the hospital entrance.
The footage then shows the guard struggling with the young woman and she tries catching her balance. He then drags her back inside the hospital and plops her on the ground before slapping a pair of handcuffs on her.
Recalling the incident, Allen said she put her hand up letting the guard know to back off, as she was in extreme pain at the moment. That’s when she says he hit her, sparking the encounter caught on tape.
“This was a young lady with zero criminal history, admitted for bonafide medical reasons, who had a port installed,” Watkins said. “She had the bad fortune to run into Superman in a unitard, coming out of nowhere, who decided it was time to teach this young lady a lesson.”
Despite video evidence of the attack, it’s Allen who’s facing assault charges thanks to a complaint filed by SSM Health, the Riverfront Times reported.
Since the incident, the young woman says she has not only suffered physical pain but symptoms of PTSD as well. Moreover, Allen said she had to turn down a job in Arizona because she now has to rely on her family for support.
Watkins told the newspaper the security guard in question has since been “relieved of his duties.”
SSM Health DePaul Hospital later released a statement on the matter.
“SSM Health DePaul Hospital is committed to providing the best care possible to every patient who comes to us and to ensuring the safety of all patients, employees and visitors. Due to federal patient privacy laws, we are unable to provide details of any patient’s care. The Bridgeton Police Department investigated the matter, and we cooperated fully with their efforts.”
Watch more in the clip below.