Man charged with murder for assault of hospital security guard who later died

A man has been charged with murder after assaulting a hospital security guard who later died.

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Wyoming, Minn., officers were called to M Health Fairview Lakes Hospital on Christmas on a report of a man leaving the Emergency Department despite a medical hold. The man, identified as 35-year-old Jonathan Chet Winch, had pushed past the large, magnetic doors and left the emergency department, according to a criminal complaint.

A responding officer found an unconscious security guard lying next to a security vehicle that had its lights activated. Winch was seen trying to get into the vehicle, court documents state.

The officer “actively fought” with Winch for several minutes, and even tried tasing him before other officers got to the scene and helped with the arrest. During the fight, Winch said, “I didn’t mean to hurt her” multiple times, according to court documents.

The security guard, identified as 43-year-old Andrea Jean Merrell, was brought to the hospital with severe head trauma, agonal breathing and a very weak pulse.

Surveillance video showed two people near the security vehicle appearing to “engage in a physical struggle.” The smaller person was seen lying on the pavement and the larger person was seen on top of them. The larger person appeared to be hitting the smaller person.

Merrell died of her injuries on Saturday. The Ramsey County medical examiner determined her death to be a homicide, with the cause being traumatic head injuries due to physical assault.
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