An Oahu Community Correctional Center inmate attacked a nurse Tuesday, the Department of Public Safety said in a news release late Friday afternoon.

An anonymous tipster contacted the Honolulu Star-Advertiser earlier Friday,  which made calls to the Public Safety Department before a news release was issued.

Toni Schwartz, spokeswoman for the Public Safety Department, said the department considers this serious, but the incident was not reported sooner because department officials were respecting the wishes of the nurse, who wanted to return to work without the incident being publicized.

OCCC inmate John Fuimaono, who is being held for third-degree assault, was being evaluated at the OCCC Health Care Unit on Tuesday when he allegedly grabbed the nurse and held her in a chokehold, Public Safety said.

Prison guards immediately intervened and distracted him so the nurse could push him away and escape, DPS said.

The woman was taken to a hospital emergency room for treatment of a small bruise, but was not admitted.

The incident lasted five minutes, DPS said.

Guards called the Sheriff Division, and deputy sheriffs arrested Fuimaono on suspicion of unlawful imprisonment, which is being investigated by the Attorney General’s Office.