NEWBURYPORT, MASS. (WHDH) - An Amesbury man who suffers from mental illness is facing an attempted murder charge after breaking into a home in Newburyport naked and beating a man with a hammer, police say.
Police arrested 26-year-old Robert Girard Friday on charges including attempted murder in connection with the early morning beating Friday on Rawson Avenue.
Officials say Girard, who suffers from schizophrenia, left Anna Jacques Hospital late Friday night after removing IVs and a GPS monitoring bracelet.
The victim was asleep in his bed with his partner when Girard allegedly broke into the home around 2 a.m. and attacked him with a hammer.
Police say they later arrested Girard, who was still at least partially undressed, on Lois Street.
The victim, a 50-year-old man, was treated at Anna Jacques Hospital and released.
Girard was arraigned Friday in Salem District Court on charges of assault and battery, attempted burglary and attempted murder.
In a statement, the hospital said, “When this patient fled our emergency room we followed our policy and procedure and immediately notified the police and worked with them to help locate the individual.”
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