A Harris County deputy allegedly assaulted three nurses at a Baytown hospital on New Year’s Day, facing felony charges
Deputy Relieved of Duty After Alleged Assault on Nurses
A Harris County Precinct 3 Constables’ deputy has been relieved of duty after a violent incident on New Year’s Day. He allegedly assaulted three nurses at a Baytown hospital, according to court documents and police reports.
Robert Earl Nobles Jr., a sergeant with the constable’s office, faces three felony counts of assault on medical personnel.
Details of the Incident
The incident took place around 7:30 a.m. on January 1 at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital on Garth Road. Investigators reported that Nobles entered the facility voluntarily and was not under an emergency detention order during the attacks.
Court documents describe a chaotic scene that began when a nurse responded to a bed alert. The nurse found Nobles yelling at another staff member. The victim stated that Nobles seemed “detached from the world” before he charged at her and punched her in the face, knocking her to the ground.
A second nurse, who is 26 weeks pregnant, tried to call security, but Nobles allegedly intervened. According to the probable cause affidavit, Nobles grabbed a desktop printer and struck the pregnant nurse in the head twice.
After she fell to the floor on her stomach, Nobles allegedly picked up a computer monitor and slammed it onto her back.
A third nurse reported encountering Nobles as he walked toward the ICU building. She said he initially approached her calmly, but she heard other nurses screaming for her to get away from him. When the third nurse attempted to flee, Nobles punched her in the back of the head, knocking her down.
Police Response
Baytown police officers arrived to find Nobles detained on a gurney. Investigators confirmed that surveillance footage captured the entire incident.
The Harris County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office stated that Nobles has been relieved of duty and placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.
Nobles’ current bond status and legal representation were not immediately available.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Deputy Name | Robert Earl Nobles Jr. |
| Position | Sergeant, Harris County Precinct 3 Constables’ Office |
| Incident Date | January 1 |
| Incident Time | 7:30 a.m. |
| Location | Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital |
| Charges | Three felony counts of assault on medical personnel |
| Victims | Three nurses |
| Bond Status | Not available |
