[A] Braintree man has been arrested on an aggravated assault charge of trying to poison a co-worker at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph.
Wayne Parezo, 63, allegedly introduced a “foreign substance” into an employee’s beverage on July 25, according to a news release from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
An investigation was initiated after the victim went to the emergency room after consuming the substance. The sheriff’s office publicly announced the incident last Friday.
Police have not provided more information about the type of substance involved, and Capt. Kyle Kapitanski of the Orange County department did not return calls seeking comment on Monday.
Kapitanski told the Valley News Friday that the victim “is OK” following the visit to Gifford’s emergency room.
He said the incident is isolated and there should be “no cause for any public alarm.”
Gifford spokesperson Ashley Lincoln said Parezo is no longer an employee, but worked at the hospital at the time of the alleged incident. Lincoln declined to answer further questions about Parezo, calling it a “personnel issue” of an “ongoing nature.”
Parezo had been an employee at the hospital for more than five years, according to an annual report on the hospital’s website. He worked in the Environmental Services department, and was involved in cleaning the facility.
“We’re cooperating with the sheriff’s department and its ongoing work and we are fully committed to maintaining a safe work environment for all of our employees and our patients,” Lincoln said in an interview.
Hospital officials and police declined to identify the victim, or provide further information on her medical condition, citing patient privacy regulations.
“We are following all the appropriate channels within this investigation,” Lincoln said.
Police say the investigation is ongoing. Parezo is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment on Sept. 5.
Will Porter, the Orange County state’s attorney, said Monday he has received the case files from the sheriff’s department, but has yet to review them.
