By Liz Adkins
InkFreeNews

Ronald Keith Orr

WARSAW — A Syracuse man has been found guilty of spitting blood on a hospital nurse.

Ronald Keith Orr, 63, 11311 N. Nash Drive, Syracuse, was found guilty of battery to a public safety official, a level 6 felony.

A bench trial was held in Kosciusko Superior Court Two on Tuesday, Aug. 20. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Buehler and Defense Attorney Austin Rovenstine handled the case.

Kosciusko Superior Court Two Judge Torrey Bauer found Orr guilty on the charge. Sentencing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sept. 10.

On June 5, 2023, a Parkview Warsaw officer was advised of a nurse being exposed to blood from a patient. The officer went to a hospital room and saw Orr, who had blood on his hands, forearms, and face.

According to court documents, the officer then spoke with the nurse, who said Orr spit in her face and that Orr’s blood got into her mouth. The nurse also said she accidentally swallowed the blood.

About three hours later, the officer accompanied the nurse back to Orr’s room so the nurse could give Orr a shot and discharge him. When the officer asked Orr if he meant to get his blood on the nurse, Orr claimed he did not intentionally spit on the nurse. He then left the hospital with a relative.

The nurse said she didn’t believe the incident was an accident. She said she heard Orr yelling. When the nurse entered the room, Orr said he was yelling that he needed to use the restroom but no one was hearing him. Orr then spit on her.