Port St. Lucie police have charged a traveling X-ray technician with a first-degree felony after a patient at HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital reported being sexually assaulted while undergoing an MRI, according to the criminal complaint and law enforcement sources.
Allegations involve patient who was drowsy and vulnerable
Officers arrested 42-year-old Gabriel Cruz, identified in police records as a traveling X-ray technician, after a patient reported the alleged assault. The charge is sexual battery involving a physically helpless or incapacitated victim, a first-degree felony under Florida law.
Police responded to the hospital on Sept. 14, shortly after 8 a.m., following the patient's report, the complaint states. Hospital officials told officers the patient reported being assaulted by a male technician while inside an MRI suite. The patient reportedly told investigators that Spanish is her primary language and described the technician as Hispanic, of medium build, speaking Spanish and wearing a blue shirt.
“Nobody can see what I can do to you,”
The criminal complaint says the patient recalled a technician bringing her to the MRI room the previous afternoon, on Sept. 13, at about 4 p.m. She told police she had been admitted after fainting and suffering two falls that resulted in head injuries. Medication given for her condition left her drowsy and drifting in and out of sleep during the imaging procedure, the report says.
Investigation and charges
According to the police report, the hospital’s director of patient safety met with officers and relayed the patient’s account. Investigators allege the technician made remarks to the patient before the MRI examination and then sexually assaulted her while she was unable to resist or fully respond.
Cruz is accused of committing the act while the patient was physically helpless or incapacitated — circumstances that elevate the alleged offense to a first-degree felony. Authorities have not released additional details about evidence collected, any statements from Cruz, or whether he remains in custody pending formal arraignment.
Local implications and patient safety concerns
The allegation raises safety and oversight questions for patients and families who seek care in Port St. Lucie. Traveling medical technicians are commonly used by hospitals to fill temporary staffing needs, and the complaint notes Cruz was working in that capacity at the time of the reported incident.
Hospital patients who are sedated, medicated or otherwise impaired are among the most vulnerable, and this incident is likely to prompt reviews of escort procedures, documentation and supervision in imaging suites and other treatment areas. The hospital has not released an official statement to the public, according to the police records referenced in the complaint.
- Suspect: Gabriel Cruz, 42, a traveling X-ray technician
- Charge: First-degree felony — sexual battery involving a physically helpless or incapacitated victim
- Location: HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital, Port St. Lucie
- Reported incident: Sept. 13 during an MRI; police responded Sept. 14
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Sept. 13, ~4 p.m. | Patient taken for MRI; reports being drowsy from medication |
| Sept. 14, ~8 a.m. | Patient reports alleged assault; police respond |
Local law enforcement and hospital administrators become key sources of information as the case advances. A criminal complaint forms the basis for prosecution but is not proof of guilt; the accused is entitled to due process. The investigation is ongoing and may include interviews with hospital staff, review of video, and forensic medical examinations if available.
Port St. Lucie residents who have concerns about hospital safety or staffing may contact the hospital’s patient safety office or the Port St. Lucie Police Department for more information. The case is likely to draw attention from patient advocacy groups and officials who oversee health care licensure and conduct.
Updates are expected as prosecutors decide whether to file formal charges and as police release additional details about evidence and next steps in the investigation.
