Houston MRI technician says she was attacked while on the job at St. Joseph Medical Center

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A Houston MRI technician says she has resigned from her job at St. Joseph Medical Center after she was allegedly attacked by a stranger inside a hospital stairwell, leaving her too afraid to return to work.

Chemeka Thornton said the assault happened on July 18 near the end of her shift at the downtown hospital. She said there were no patients to see around 6 p.m., so she decided to use a nearby stairwell to get some exercise when the attack occurred.

"I got to the second landing, there was a man, and he grabbed my arm," Thornton recalled. "I spun around, ran down the stairs, ran out the door, and I was thinking of the closest place to run where I could lock the door."

Thornton said the suspect fled the hospital after the attack.

She described him as approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall with a tan complexion and long sandy-colored hair. She said the man had on a black cap and shirt.

After escaping, Thornton said she notified her supervisors before seeking treatment in the hospital's emergency room. While there, she contacted the Houston Police Department to file an assault report.

Thornton said she was shocked to learn from other hospital employees that security cameras in or around the stairwell were not working at the time of the incident.

"Anything could have happened," Thornton said. "Throughout my time in the ER, employees were coming in and saying those cameras don't work. We don't go anywhere by ourselves. And I'm like, 'I didn't get that memo.'"

Nearly two weeks later, bruising and a cut on Thornton's left arm were still visible.

Houston Police confirmed officers took an assault report and said the investigation remains ongoing.

Thornton, who also works as an MRI technician at another medical office, said she has no plans to return to St. Joseph Medical Center. She said the hospital later offered her a night shift position, but she declined and submitted her resignation.

"I'm not going back," Thornton said. "I'm scared. I'm not going back."

ABC13 reached out to St. Joseph Medical Center and its Florida-based parent company for comment. So far, nobody has returned Eyewitness News' calls.