Schenectady Police: Cobleskill man punched Ellis Hospital nurse, injured nurse's shoulder

SCHENECTADY — A Cobleskill man was arrested Wednesday, accused of repeatedly punching a nurse at Ellis Hospital in January and causing a shoulder injury, authorities said.

Brett E. Oteri, 27, of Mallard Lane, faces one count of second-degree assault, a felony.

Oteri is accused of punching the registered nurse in the back of the head three times early Jan. 30, according to police allegations filed in court.

“While attempting to subdue the defendant during the attack, the victim sustained a torn rotator cuff and leg pain, requiring the victim to be treated at Ellis Hospital,” police alleged in charging documents.

A police spokesman identified Oteri as a patient at the time. He was arrested on the charge in Cobleskill and city police picked him up Wednesday.

The incident follows at least three other instances of people charged with assaulting Ellis Hospital nurses this year.

One woman was accused of punching a nurse in the eye Jan. 3, another accused of struggling with a nurse Jan. 26 and injuring the nurse’s ring finger. A third woman was accused of assaulting an Ellis emergency room technician in early May.

Also Thursday: