A Brighton man has been arrested after an alleged threat prompted a lockdown at Washington County Hospital Thursday morning.
Washington Police were dispatched to the hospital around 9:15 a.m. September 17 after a threat was reportedly made to the facility. While officers were responding, they were notified the hospital had been placed on lockdown.
Police say Roger Lee Smith, 60, of Brighton, had communicated with hospital staff by telephone and allegedly threatened that “lots of people were going to get hurt.” Police say Smith also made a statement about a specific hospital employee being outside and wearing a vest, which authorities interpreted as a threat of a forcible felony.
Smith was located in Washington and arrested on a charge of first-degree harassment. He was transported to the Washington County Jail.
Washington Police say no other locations or facilities were identified as targets during the incident.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Washington County Attorney’s Office assisted.
A charge is merely an accusation; a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.