Bradenton police arrest woman loading gun in purse while at hospital emergency room

Bradenton Police arrested a Sarasota woman who loaded a gun in her purse while at Blake Hospital early Wednesday.

A staff member at the hospital, located at 2020 59 St. W, reported the woman at 2:16 a.m. after watching her load the gun on surveillance cameras, officials said in a written report.

Officers were on the scene at 2:20 a.m. and entered through the ambulance bay, where the caller was located. The staff member identified the suspect who was approached by a security guard.

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The security guard seized a handgun from her purse, and officers surrounded the woman and took her into custody by 2:24 a.m.

Body camera footage from officers showed the woman with an IV in her arm and wearing a hospital wristband. The woman said she was a patient as officers arrested her.

"You don't have to do that. I'm not feeling good," the woman said as officers handcuffed her on body camera footage.

Officials said in the written report that investigating officers seized a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard .380 handgun and a semi-automatic weapon with an incorporated laser, which had been secured by the security guard.

Her purse had one high-capacity magazine with 36 loaded rounds, two magazines containing 13 loaded rounds and 14 loose rounds.

Witnesses said that she was loading bullets into a magazine, officials said in the report.

The woman was arrested and was charged with introducing a firearm into a hospital and possession of a concealed weapon without a concealed weapon permit, officials said in the report.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Police arrest woman who loaded gun while at hospital emergency room