Police: Drunk driver on U.S. 1 fights officers, ER nurses

Steven Osten of Upper Matecumbe Key was facing only a charge of drunk driving causing property damage after he smashed into the car in front of him on U.S. 1 this week while allegedly smashed himself.

But Osten on Friday remained at the Stock Island jail on a number of allegations, including felony battery, after deputies said he fought off the nurses who were trying to help him after the crash and resisted arrest to the point where he deserved a police takedown by leg sweep.

Osten’s bond was set at $18,500 and he was booked Wednesday on charges of DUI and two counts of DUI with damage to property. Thursday, considering his post-crash behavior, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies added one felony count of aggravated battery on an officer, firefighter or EMT; one felony count resisting arrest with violence; and two counts of resisting arrest.

Osten, 24, who works as a cook and bartender, was found by deputies just after midnight Aug. 1 at the scene of a two-car crash at mile marker 55 with a blood-covered face and a blood-stained deployed air bag inside his car. No injuries were reported and Osten blamed the other driver for slamming on the brakes, according to the arrest warrant, which faults him for the crash.

Smelling of booze, slurring his words and repeatedly asking the same questions, Osten refused to sit still for the deputies, the report states. Deputies said they had to hold him down when he refused to stay seated on the ground even after placed in handcuffs.

At Fishermen’s Community Hospital, where deputies took him for medical clearance before being booked into jail, Osten continued being combative, the report stated.

Osten called the nurses “f---ing bitches” and at one point kicked nurse Brandi Dillard, 38, while she was trying to clean the blood from his face, deputies said.

Hospital staff and deputies had to hold Osten down while he was strapped down and given medication that “knocked him out,” according to the report. The emergency room doctor told police Osten would be airlifted to a Miami hospital due to his erratic behavior and in case he had further injuries from the car crash.

This story was originally published August 6, 2016 at 9:25 AM with the headline "Police: Drunk driver on U.S. 1 fights officers, ER nurses."