Editor’s Note
This story was last updated at 12:25 p.m. Jan. 30.
ONTARIO — A 65-year-old man was arrested Wednesday morning after allegedly making verbal threats at Avita Hospital at the Ontario Center, formerly known as the Richland Mall.
Ontario police were called at 11:03 a.m., according to a press release from Chief Tommy Hill.
The suspect, announced Thursday to be Randy Dawson of Lexington, was charged with inducing panic and aggravated menacing, the chief said. Ontario Police determined the suspect left the Ontario hospital and went to Galion Avita Hospital where he was located and arrested by Galion Police without incident.
The arrest came after he allegedly made threatening statements to hospital staff, “prompting immediate concerns for the safety of employees and patients,” according to Hill.
Hospital administrators initiated a soft lockdown at 11 a.m., temporarily limiting access to and from the premises while security personnel worked with law enforcement to assess the situation, the chief said.
The lockdown was enacted to ensure the safety of all individuals within the hospital and to facilitate a thorough investigation, Hill said.
Ontario police completed a brief investigation and worked with Galion police to arrest the man.
“He was at Ontario’s hospital, and when we arrived, the hospital had already initiated its lockdown,” Lt. Tony Grimwood said Thursday. “We realized he was likely en route to Galion, so they assisted us with that, took him to custody and then we transported him to the Richland County Jail.”
Avita’s vice president of operations Kim Winkle said the Ontario hospital lifted its lockdown around 12:15 p.m. The Galion Hospital was also on lockdown from 11:43 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
“A verbal threat was made at Ontario and we received information that the suspect was headed toward Galion, so we locked down that location as well,” Winkle said.
Hill said there was no active shooter incident at the Avita Hospital or the Ontario Center, despite social media rumors.
No injuries were reported and the lockdown was lifted once the situation was resolved, the chief said.
“We take all threats, whether verbal or otherwise, very seriously,” Hill said.
“The safety of the public, hospital staff, and patients is our top priority, and we will continue to work with local institutions to ensure that these environments remain secure,” the chief said.