THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 20, 1995 TAG: 9507200457
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Metro Briefs
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
Several patients were evacuated and some operations at Sentara Leigh Hospital were disrupted for several hours Wednesday night after a man who claimed to have a gun barricaded himself in a room.
The man, who had been drinking, later was talked into surrendering. He had no weapon. He was taken to a mental health facility for examination.
Police said the man, who was not charged and whose name was not released, had been at the hospital on Kempsville Road earlier in the day for outpatient care. He returned just before 7 p.m. with a friend and locked himself in a room.
The friend, who was locked out, called for help. Police were told that the barricaded man might have a weapon. He did make threats to harm some people.
The Police Department's emergency response team sealed off the area around the room, and 11 patients in nearby rooms on the 2nd floor were moved to other rooms.
After speaking with police negotiators, the man surrendered peacefully about two hours after the incident began.
The incident occurred during evening visiting hours.
``The main disruption was to those people who came to visit,'' said Debby Myers, a Sentara spokeswoman. ``It did not disrupt patient care in any way.''
Ambulance crews were told to divert to other hospitals during the standoff, but it was unclear if any had to.
KEYWORDS: SENTARA LEIGH HOSPITAL NORFOLK POLICE DEPARTMENT
by CNB