NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A homeless man suffered a skull fracture after a homeless woman struck him with a stick about 20 times on Saturday near North Miami Beach, according to Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel and MDSO deputies with the Intracoastal District found the man injured shortly after 6:30 a.m. at Northeast Seventh Avenue and 167 Street, records show.
“In an attempt to stop the attack, the victim stated that he attempted to grab the [attacker’s] stick, and he also grabbed the [attacker’s] black sweatpants,” a deputy wrote, according to the arrest report.
MDFR personnel took the man to Jackson North Medical Center first and later to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, according to MDSO deputies with the ID’s uniformed patrol.
Deputies identified the man’s alleged attacker as Viola Sharonda Patterson and reported finding her “sitting alone at the bus stop” across the street, according to a deputy’s arrest report.
“The defendant initially provided investigators with the legal name Melissa Michelle Ethridge,” a deputy wrote, adding that a fingerprint analysis revealed her true identity, according to the arrest report.
Miami-Dade corrections booked Patterson, 46, shortly after 6:10 p.m. on Saturday at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, according to inmate records.
Patterson faced charges of second-degree attempted murder, obstruction by a disguised person, and giving a false name or identification to law enforcement. Her bond was $8,500.
Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Zachary N. James was set to preside over the case, according to court records.
Local 10 News Assignment Editor Mercedes Cevallos contributed to this report.
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