Hunter
02/27/20
An Iowa City woman was taken into custody this week after allegedly slashing health care providers at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
19-year-old Kayla Johnston of Kirkwood Avenue was a guest at the behavioral health unit on Monday morning when she is accused of punching a hand sanitizer dispenser, shattering it and creating a 2 by 6 inch plastic improvised cutting weapon. Johnston allegedly threatened two health care providers with the shank, stating “I’m going to kill you guys” and “I’m going to kill myself.”
Arrest reports indicate that two providers suffered lacerations about their forearms and hands from underhanded slashes and one pointed-end stab to one provider as they were attempting to disarm Johnston. She was also allegedly trying to lacerate her own arm with the weapon.
Johnston later disclosed to a physician that she “punished” the health care providers so that she could hurt herself. She reportedly admitted that the weapon she was using could have seriously injured either of the providers.
This is not the first incident involving Johnston at the UIHC. On December 30th, she was at the ER for a psychological evaluation due to alleged desires to hurt herself. She attempted to leave by taking a stool and repeatedly throwing it at a door. She reportedly broke a leg off the stool.
Johnston was booked into the Johnson County Jail early Wednesday afternoon. She’s been charged with 5th degree Criminal Mischief and two counts of Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations with the use of a Weapon. If convicted on both charges, Johnston could be sentenced to over ten years in prison.
