Hospital hit with bomb scare
Staff writer
Nearly 120 employees and patients at St. Luke Hospital were caught up in a bomb scare Thursday after a voicemail prompted a multi-agency emergency response.
The response began after hospital chief executive Alex Haines reported receiving a voicemail from Justin L. Chrisjohn, 49, Marion, that Haines thought he threatened to blow up the hospital.
Before the voicemail, St. Luke human resources director Lindsay Hutchison had spoken by telephone with Chrisjohn, who was upset trying to obtain records related to a disability claim.
According to official court documents, Chrisjohn said in a voicemail, “I bet you I could get you to call me quicker if I told you I was going to blow your building up. I ain’t going to lie, the thought crossed my head. But that ain’t gonna happen. Call me immediately.”
Haines called 911 after listening to the message.
Marion police, firefighters, ambulance personnel, and the county emergency manager responded while the hospital activated its emergency procedures.
Emergency medical and fire personnel responded under the hospital’s protocol rather than at police request, Marion Police Chief Aaron Slater said.
The hospital was not evacuated, but staff were placed on alert.
About 90 employees and 30 patients reportedly became frightened after learning of the reported threat.
Officers arrested Chrisjohn at his Marion home later that afternoon.
After being advised of his rights, Chrisjohn told officers he had become angry while trying to obtain records.
He acknowledged making statements about blowing up the building but told investigators, “I said that if I said your building was going to blow up I would get a faster response. I did not say that there is a bomb.”
Chrisjohn was arrested on suspicion of aggravated criminal threat.
However, Judge Keith Collett found insufficient probable cause to support that allegation, and Chrisjohn was released.