An Arkansas State University basketball player Thursday was arrested and charged with purportedly attacking a Jonesboro police officer at a mental hospital, police say.
Officers were called to the St. Bernards Medical Center mental health unit about 6:30 p.m. because staff said Anthony Livingston, 22, "became irate," according to a Jonesboro Police Department report.
Livingston is listed on the Arkansas State University's online basketball roster.
Hospital staff told police they asked Livingston to put on a pair of scrubs, which caused him to "become very hostile" and threaten them, the report states. Police said Livingston told the staff to "look down at the ground" and began counting and "raised a fist as if [he] was going to strike them."
The staff members left Livingston's room and went into the unit's lobby where they observed the basketball player "kicking at glass windows and kicking doors," the report states. An officer reported the frame of the door was "slightly" hanging off the wall and hospital employees were not sure whether the door was functional.
Police said Livingston threatened more hospital workers and "acted like he was going to strike them."
One of the staff members told officers he has "never felt so threatened in his life," the report states.
When officers arrived and tried to calm Livingston down, the basketball player "rushed" at Officer Tyler Wilson, the report states. Wilson used his Taser to stop Livingston, but police said Livingston did not have a reaction to the Taser and "struck" Wilson, knocking him to the ground.
Another officer fired his Taser into Livingston's back, but he pulled the Taser prongs out of his back and rushed toward that officer, the report states.
Livingston then ran out of the hospital to the south toward Arkansas State University's football field, the report states. Several officers told Livingston to stop running, and when he did not comply, an officer struck Livingston with his Taser, police said.
Livingston was transported back to St. Bernards Medical Center for a medical evaluation and Wilson was taken to the NEA Baptist Medical Center in Jonesboro. As of 5:30 p.m. Friday, Wilson had not been released from the hospital, Jonesboro Police Department spokesman Paul Holmes said. The extent of Wilson's injuries was not immediately available.
Holmes said police were not sure why Livingston was at St. Bernards Medical Center in the mental health unit before the attack.
The basketball player was charged with second-degree battery, second-degree assault, resisting arrest, fleeing and criminal mischief, the report states.
Livingston was taken to the Craighead County jail where he is being held without bail, Holmes said. Craighead County District Judge Keith Blackman ordered a mental health screening before setting a bail, according to Holmes.
Holmes said Arkansas State University basketball Head Coach John Brady was present at the hearing but did not speak.
