Warrant Issued for Man Accused of Attacking Nurse

LA CROSSE, Wis. — A bench warrant has been issued for an Iowa man accused of assault after he failed to appear in court. The warrant was issued for Wayne Sorenson, 68, of Decorah, following his absence from a scheduled court appearance on June 18. Sorenson was initially arrested in April after allegedly attacking a nurse at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. According to the criminal complaint, Sorenson is facing a felony charge of bodily harm or threat to a health care provider or family. The initial complaint describes how Sorenson purportedly grabbed the nurse by her hair, swung her to the floor and repeatedly slammed her head against the floor. The attack resulted in severe headaches and a nosebleed for the nurse. Sorenson has a documented history of mental health issues and had been undergoing treatment while at the hospital. A crisis worker reported that Sorenson believed he was being treated unfairly by hospital staff, particularly after his cell phone was confiscated and family visits were halted. The crisis worker suggested that the lack of communication with his family might have contributed to Sorenson's aggressive behavior. He was released on a signature bond on April 24, with an agreement to appear in court on June 18. Despite signing the bond, he did not show up for the court date, leading to the issuance of the bench warrant. Elevate your inbox with the DecorahNews.com newsletter! Receive free thought-provoking articles, actionable advice and inspiring stories every week