A former Lakeland cardiologist was arrested on September 19 after an incident at BayCare’s Bartow Regional Medical Center escalated into a physical altercation with law enforcement.
According to an affidavit filed by the Bartow Police Department, officers were called to Bartow Regional Medical Center at 2200 Osprey Blvd. around 8:47 a.m. in reference to a trespassing complaint. Staff advised police that Dr. Rajesh Lall, 47, had been terminated from employment earlier this year and had been told not to return to the property. Employees reported that Dr. Lall had been sending text messages to a staff member and showed officers the messages.
When Dr. Lall arrived at the hospital, officers reported that he drove recklessly through the parking lot before exiting his vehicle and walking toward the facility. Officers informed him he was trespassing and gave him a written trespass warning, ordering him to leave. Dr. Lall allegedly refused, turned away, and attempted to get back into his vehicle.
As officers tried to take him into custody, Dr. Lall resisted and pulled away, pushing one officer into a car door, according to the affidavit. Police say he continued to resist while officers attempted to handcuff him. The struggle carried into the hospital lobby where additional officers intervened. At one point, officers say Dr. Lall pushed the hands of one officer behind his back while resisting arrest. Officers then deployed a taser to gain control…