SEBASTIAN – Indian River County sheriff’s deputies held a man at gunpoint inside a hospital where he refused to leave and was later found to have a loaded handgun, ammunition and paraphernalia testing positive for methamphetamine.
One of the deputies called to Orlando Health Sebastian River Hospital about a disturbance inside a room within its emergency department said the man was standing near a hospital bed when he noticed the handle of a gun “sticking out of his right front pocket,” according to the arrest affidavit.
Records show the deputy said he drew his weapon and ordered the man to the ground, saying that as he did, he “took partial cover behind the doorjamb.” At least two deputies and a Sebastian police officer were involved in the arrest.
The man surrendered and was handcuffed to a hospital bed early Sept. 21, law enforcement records show.
Deputies who searched him reported finding a 9mm handgun loaded with 11 hollow point rounds, a second magazine with 10 and a pocket knife in his pants pockets.
The deputy wrote in the report the man immediately dropped to the ground “crying to not shoot him.”
Hospital security called for help from law enforcement after the former patient refused to leave after being discharged and later began “beating on the hospital wall.”
The two hospital security officers told deputies in the report the man made statements including, “I’m not afraid to go out in style.”
According to the affidavit, a pipe-like device, or water bong, was found on the ground when the man stood after being handcuffed. It was tested by deputies and found positive for methamphetamine.
Sheriff’s Lt. Kevin Jaworski said because of medical privacy laws, he could not say why the man was at the hospital.
“Weapons are prohibited at the hospital,” said Jaworski, adding that because the man is a felon, “…he’s not supposed to have one anyway.”
Signs are posted on all public entrances at the hospital stating weapons are not allowed inside, he said. However, he said he was unsure if metal detectors were present at public access points.
The hospital employs its own security guards, but Jaworski said, “deputies do regularly get called there for various calls for service.”
A hospital spokesperson did not respond to a request for information.
Jaworski said he did not know if the man was determined to be under the influence of any substance, but he said those under the influence of a stimulant narcotic “can exhibit behavior like that.”
Indian River County jail records show Phillip Heyward Harrison, 38, of Orlando, was charged with possession of a weapon or ammunition by a felon, possession of drug paraphernalia and trespass. He remains incarcerated in the Indian River County Jail on $160,000 bail. Records do not indicate if he has an attorney.
(This story was updated with new information.)
Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Corey on (X) @coreyarwood, or reach him by phone at 772-978-2246.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Loaded gun, knife, drug paraphernalia found on man refusing to leave hospital, deputies say
Reporting by Corey Arwood, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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