SHERIFF'S OFFICE: MAN AT TEXAS HOSPITAL HAS SURRENDERED

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

BY MICHAEL GRACZYK

TOMBALL, Texas (AP) -- The father of a patient at a southeast Texas hospital who became distraught over his son's condition surrendered without incident after about a four-hour standoff Saturday night in his son's hospital room, authorities said.

Officials feared the man, whose name was not immediately disclosed, might be armed but officers did not find a weapon when he surrendered shortly before 11 p.m. CST, Harris County Sheriff's Lt. Joe Ambriz said.

No one was injured as the man holed up in a second-floor room in the critical care unit of Tomball Regional Medical Center, about 30 miles northwest of Houston. He surrendered without incident after more than a dozen SWAT officers reported to the hospital along with a sheriff's department negotiating team.

"The focus was to make sure everyone on that floor was safe and moved out of potential harm's way and we take the subject into custody," Ambriz said.

FULL story at link.



Police are shown leaving from Tomball Regional Medical Center Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, in Tomball. Authorities say the father of a patient at the Texas hospital who became distraught over his son's condition has surrendered without incident. They said he did not have a weapon. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Melissa Phillip)

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TEXAS_HOSPITAL_HOSTAGES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-01-11-01-04-29

[TexasTowelie]

1. Good to know that the situation was resolved without anyone being hurt.

It sounds like the man was very despondent about his son's situation so I can understand how a situation like this could develop.

[ColesCountyDem]

2. Such a sad situation.

I'm glad that no one was hurt, and I hope that the authorities deal mercifully with this individual.

[KansDem]

3. I had the same thought...

"I hope that the authorities deal mercifully with this individual."

From the article:

He said the man became "very upset," about the condition of his hospitalized adult son and a disturbance broke out that the hospital officials and Tomball police were unable to control. They requested help from the sheriff's department. No further details about the indent were released.

Not sure of the condition of the son but now the the man has the legal system to deal with. If his son's health worsens, will the father be allowed to see him? Will the father be permitted to be at his side if the inevitable occurs?

My son will turn 17 in a week. He's in good health, but if he were in the hospital with a serious medical condition and possibly getting worse, it would be a hell for me if I were sitting in jail.

[ColesCountyDem]

5. "... it would be a hell for me if I were sitting in jail.."

That was my very first thought.

[magical thyme]

4. the violence and abuse against health care staff is unacceptable

I don't care how effing upset people are, taking it out on the people who are trying to help you is simply not acceptable.

We had a distraught receptionist/intake person in the lab the other day. Apparently, people are consistantly rude and nasty to them. No only yelling at them, but calling them names. She has even been called a "cunt" by patients. It's simply unacceptable.

A few weeks ago, I head knocking in the back of the lab. I looked up and somebody was pounding on the window and waving at me. I couldn't hear what he was yelling to me. It turned out that a mental patient who had been released from the big hospital sooner than he should have been had come to the urgent care center. He walked out before they'd finished treating him, so they believed that's who it was. They called the police, who searched the area for him but never found him. I was not alone at the time, fortunately. However I was alone from 6pm on and frankly scared shitless.

[Gothmog]

6. I am very glad that no one was hurt during this event