A mother who police said smoked Blizzard on the Altoona Regional maternity ward faces charges after she allegedly stripped naked and assaulted nurses and hospital police.
Carla J. Murphy, 31, of 1902 Third Ave. was recovering in the hospital on June 17, after the delivery of her baby two days previously.
Hospital police were called by the nursing staff because Murphy was shouting, cursing and being aggressive with several nurses, according to court records.
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Carla Murphy
Police noted the staff believed Murphy was on drugs that were not given to her at the hospital.
Because she was "not of sound mind or able to make her own decisions," doctors decided to keep her at the hospital to be evaluated by mental health professionals, her charges show.
When escorted from the hall to her room, Murphy allegedly walked into the bathroom, stripped naked, rolled round on the shower floor while appearing confused and unable to answer basic questions about her whereabouts, police said.
As nurses attempted to get Murphy out of the bathroom and dressed, she berated them and officers, but she did tell police that they could "search any of my belongings," court documents state.
Inside Murphy's purse was a dismantled black pen with residue of a substance inside as well as other signs of drug use including a lighter and "silver 'Disco' package wrapped in medical tape containing a white substance," charges note.
When asked what the powder was, Murphy told police, "Disco."
Murphy was given the anti-psychotic drug Haldol by a nurse at the direction of a doctor and was asked to sit down on her bed, police said.
Instead, Murphy continued to yell at the staff and flail her arms aggressively before darting toward the door and pushing past nurses and officers.
Officers said they were able to keep Murphy in her room, but she started swinging her fists and the struggle spilled into the hallway.
Police did get Murphy back to her bed, but she immediately stood up and punched a nurse and then struck and kicked and tried to bite an officer when he tried to restrain her, court records show.
Murphy was handcuffed and arrested. When nurses attempted to help Murphy get dressed, she kicked one of them in the chest, police said. Murphy was held down until the Haldol took effect, and she fell asleep.
Murphy, who had an outstanding Blair County Sheriff's Department warrant, was then taken to Blair County Prison on a probation violation.
Later on June 17, Altoona police said they paid a visit to Murphy's home to assist a Blair County Children, Youth & Families caseworker with an inspection of the residence.
Michael W. Stewart, Murphy's live-in boyfriend, allowed the caseworker to inspect where the newborn would be sleeping and then gave police permission to search the couple's bedroom.
Stewart told officers he was aware Murphy once had a problem with Blizzard, a street name for the illegal stimulant MDPV, but thought she was done with it, police said.
In the bedroom, police allegedly found an array of drug paraphernalia, including needles, aluminum foil, Blizzard containers and a broken glass bottle with brown residue on it.
Murphy and Stewart are both charged with possession of drug paraphernalia by Altoona police, and Murphy faces charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, disorderly conduct, public drunkeness and harassment as well as several drug counts including felony possession of a designer drug.
Murphy was released Tuesday from Blair County Prison, and arraignment on those charges is pending. Stewart and Murphy are due to appear Aug. 8 before Magisterial District Judge Todd F. Kelly for their preliminary hearing on the drug paraphernalia charge.
Mirror Staff Writer Greg Bock is at 946-7458.
