Employee Assaulted, Threatened by Patient at Melrose Wakefield

Police said a Lynn woman complaining about hospital services allegedly assaulted and threatened a nurse at Melrose Wakefield Memorial Hospital last week.

Laurie Vigeant, 44, was arrested on charges of assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and threatening to commit a crime, after a nurse reported Vigeant repeatedly hit her with a heavy-loaded purse.

Witnesses also reported that Vigeant told the victim “I (expletive) hate you, I am going to (expletive) kill you,” Melrose Police Chief Michael Lyle said.

“She repeated this several times,” he added.

Another staff member at the hospital had to intervene to end the assault, Lyle said.

Staff told police that the woman was a regular at the hospital and complaining about a lack of assistance at the check-in counter.