Security forces push woman to the ground at Randall Children’s Hospital

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — KATU obtained video of a woman named Desiree Turner being pinned to the ground by security guards at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel.

Turner tells us it started when she tried to get her purse through security.

“I put it through the detector and when they started opening it, I said I’m going to empty my purse so you can see everything that’s in it, but I don’t feel comfortable with you touching my bag.”

She told KATU that she meant it because she had the money she wanted to spend on her daughter’s birthday party in her purse.

“But there was a security guard standing off to the side who seemed to have a better opinion on the matter, and he said he had no control over anything and would touch it. If we wanted,” Turner said.

Then the situation escalated.

“I have a three-year-old daughter and she was running down the hallway. As she was running down the hallway, I yelled for her to come over. As I was walking toward her, the man walked up to me and put his hand on my chest,” Turner said.

Shortly afterwards, she says, she went to pick up her child.

“That’s when he tried to choke me to death, and then the video started,” Turner said.

At one point in the video, he pulls back her ponytail and pushes her to the ground.

“I am a victim of domestic violence. It has caused me great trauma and pain,” Turner said.

“When he pulled me by my hair and threw me to the ground, I thought about the time my ex beat me and I felt powerless.”

A group of three more security guards come to arrest them.

Desiree Turner says she was attacked

“I have bruises all over my arms. I have a few scratches on my chest. And look at this, and on my ribcage. I have a pretty big bruise from where they hit me with the knee,” Turner said.

Then they handcuffed her. She says the police came by after she had been held up by security for hours – and they did not charge her with a crime.

We reached out to a representative from the Portland Police Bureau and he said he was unaware of this incident.

Legacy responded Friday afternoon with a statement saying they were aware of the video and were investigating.

“Legacy Health is aware of the disturbing incident involving a visitor at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel. At Legacy Health, the safety of our patients, staff and community is our highest priority. We take all safety concerns at Legacy Health facilities seriously and are currently conducting a thorough investigation to gather all facts regarding this incident.”

Turner says Legacy called her to apologize.

This is a developing story. KATU will provide more details as they become available.