Prince William man sentenced for hospital attack

A man who attacked a police officer and a nurse at Potomac Hospital in October was sentenced Thursday to serve three years in prison.

Quentin Lamont Samuel, 37, of Capitol Heights, Md., pleaded guilty in March to malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer, attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer, escape by force and assault and battery.

He was sentenced Thursday to 16 years in prison, with 13 of those years suspended, and five years of probation.

Police said Samuel tried to steal a cell phone from a man outside of Potomac Hospital’s emergency room shortly before 10 p.m. Oct. 2.

A Prince William County police officer who was working an off-duty security detail at the hospital responded and told Samuel he was under arrest, according to police reports.

Samuel then punched the officer, knocked him to the ground, and kicked him, police said.

Prince William County Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Elizabeth Millette described it as “a horrendous beating"and “an egregious crime, a violent crime.“

Police said a passerby, a 29-year-old man on his way to the ER, stopped and intervened, kicking Samuel off the police officer. Police said Samuel then ran into the ER and punched a 31-year-old ER nurse before the police officer was able to handcuff him.

Millette said Samuel did not appear to show any remorse for what he did that day, but before he was sentenced, Samuel said he was sorry.

“I have matured and truly learned from my mistakes,“ he said.