Woman arrested at city hospital

An Idaho woman was in jail Wednesday night, accused of ramming a hospital security guard’s car and biting his arm while trying to abduct her 1-year-old granddaughter in Spokane.

The arrest occurred about 11 a.m. Tuesday after Sacred Heart Medical Center took custody of the infant under a state law that allows hospitals to hold children for 72 hours in cases of suspected abuse.

Pamela L. Randel, 52, of Osburn, Idaho, was booked on suspicion of first-degree assault, said Spokane police spokesman Cpl. Tom Lee.

A District Court judge found probable cause Wednesday to hold Randel and set bail at $100,000.

Sacred Heart’s chief operating officer, Elaine Couture, issued a statement saying the hospital was placed on alert when the baby disappeared after relatives were told Tuesday that the girl was being detained.

Couture said staff members were directed to block all exits, and the baby was recovered within minutes.

According to court documents, hospital security officer Phillip Connolly blocked a parking lot exit as Randel was about to leave.

Lee said the baby and her parents were in the vehicle with Randel.

Witness Alexander Fritz told police Randel nearly hit him as she sped toward the exit.

Fritz said Randel slammed into Connolly’s vehicle, then backed up and rammed it again.

Connolly told police he heard Randel yell, “Get out of my way,” just before she hit his vehicle the first time.

Court documents say Randel bit Connolly’s arm while he was handcuffing her.

Sacred Heart officials said they couldn’t comment on why the baby was being held.