A Man Walks Out Of The Hospital With The I.V. Still In His Arm. When Police Find Him, He pulls Out A Gun
- Travis Uresk
- Aug 5, 2024
- 3 min read
By Travis Uresk
8/5/24
| Vernal, Ut. | July 21st, 2024 |
Vernal City Police Officers were dispatched to the Ashley Regional Medical Center on a patient, later identified as 60-year-old Troy D. Hales, who had left the hospital in his underwear with the I.V. still in his arm.
Cpl. Young arrived at the hospital and met with hospital staff, who advised the officer that Troy came in for chest pain but had made comments about wanting to harm himself. Troy walked out of the hospital after they told him not to leave and was found by hospital security in his vehicle in the parking lot.
Cpl. Young approached Troy, who was holding a black bag in his hands and wearing a jumpsuit he had put on while in his vehicle. After speaking with Troy about why he was not allowed to leave, he began to walk away.
The officer gave Troy a lawful order to stop, and he continued to walk away. He saw Troy reach into the bag he was carrying and was told to take his hand out of the bag. Troy turned away from Cpl. Young and Officer Elmer yelled, "Gun!"
Cpl. Young drew his service pistol and gave commands to drop the firearm and put his hands up. Troy remained facing away, and the officer could see that he had a handgun in his right hand that was pointed away from the officers in the direction Troy was walking.
Troy put the gun back in the black bag, and Cpl. Young told him to drop the bag. Troy didn't comply at first but eventually threw the bag onto the ground. Troy continued to walk away, but after being asked to stop, he did not comply with Officer McDavid, Officer Murray, and Cpl. Young were attempting to place him in handcuffs. Troy was secured in handcuffs and was transported back to a patrol vehicle.
Troy made several comments about using the firearm on himself or forcing the police to shoot him before he was placed in the patrol vehicle.
Troy was transported to the Uintah County Jail, where he was booked on the charge of disorderly conduct, a class C misdemeanor, and where a mental health evaluator could see him.
On the same day, around 8:00 a.m., Deputy Anderson was working in the booking area of the Uintah County Jail, where Inmate Troy Hales was talking to Medical Staff and a female deputy at pre-booking.
Inmate Hales was in pre-book 1 on a full suicide watch and had yelled at Deputy Anderson and another deputy earlier because he was upset about having to be in jail.
Inmate Hales asked when he would see mental health workers. He was informed it wouldn't be until tomorrow (Monday) because they don't work the weekend, and it was currently Sunday.
Troy immediately became enraged because he would have to wait, and he pushed the Nurse's cart into the Nurse and female deputy while shouting we needed to let him out. Inmate Hales struck the female deputy in the face while flailing his arms, causing her glasses to fall to the ground and leaving a red mark on the bridge of her nose.
Deputy Anderson lunged and pinned Inmate Hales to the wall to prevent him from causing serious injury to staff. Still, Inmate Hales continued to struggle and try to move and fight the deputy.
Deputy Anderson dragged Inmate Hales into Pre-Book 1 and pinned him against the wall inside the cell, where Deputy Bruso and the female deputy assisted in taking Inmate Hales to the ground. The deputy maintained his restraint on Inmate Hales and told him he would let go, but Inmate Hales was to stay on the ground and not move until staff were out of his cell.
Inmate Hales agreed to comply, and Deputy Bruso, the female deputy, and Deputy Anderson exited the cell.
Inmate Hales was returned to a full suicide watch and was charged with assault by a prisoner, a 3rd degree felony.
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