Man chokes nurse in ER waiting room, lands felony charge

SANDUSKY — A Norwalk man choked a nurse at Firelands Regional Medical Center on Tuesday afternoon, according to a report through the Sandusky Police Department.James L. Weinert, 42, was in an ER waiting room with his mother around 3:20 p.m., according to the report. He told police that he believed his mother was having a seizure. So when a nurse seemed to dismiss his concern — checking the woman, telling Weinert she was all right and asking them to wait their turn — he told police he became upset.That's why, according to the account Weinert gave police, he charged a nursing station and began to choke the 34-year-old nurse. A security guard broke the pair up, according to the police report.Sandusky police documented injuries to the nurse's neck, chest and arm, according to the report.The nurse told them that Weinert's mother was not showing signs of a seizure, according to the report. He said he had asked Weinert to wait while he checked room availability when Weinert shoved him into a wall and began choking him.Weinert later told police that he had been "going through a lot" lately, according to the report. He said he "snapped" under stress during the incident.Weinert was booked at the Erie County jail on charges of felonious assault and disorderly conduct in front of emergency personnel, according to the report. The latter is a misdemeanor.Jail records indicate he was released on Wednesday. James Weinert