Valdosta doctor arrested after allegedly threatening employees

April 27, 2018

VALDOSTA, Ga. (WCTV) -- A local doctor has been charged with making terroristic threats after she allegedly threatened to slit her employees' throats.

Deputies with the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office responded on February 21 to the medical practice of Dr. Marian Antoinette Patterson in reference to a disturbance.

According to authorities, Patterson yelled at her employees, repeatedly saying she was going to "slit their throats." She told one employee she was going to "cut her head off and roll it down the hallway," and that she would call the employee's children so they could see it.

LCSO says Patterson threw a catalog, prescription bottles and a reflex hammer, which damaged a wall in the office. She also threw water on two employees and tried to throw a large potted plant.

One of the employees told deputies Patterson grabbed them by the arm and would not allow them to leave the office.

Following an investigation into the incident, warrants were issued for Patterson's arrest. She turned herself in to the Lowndes County Jail Thursday morning and has since been released on bail.

Patterson has been charged with three counts of terroristic threats and one count of false imprisonment.

The Georgia Composite Medical Board temporarily suspended Patterson's license to practice medicine on March 5. The board referenced the February incident in the suspension order, and said it had also received information that Patterson had been under the influence while at the practice on multiple occasions.

We placed a call to Patterson's office for comment but were unable to leave a message due to the voicemail inbox being full.