MORGANTOWN — An Ohio man who allegedly threatened to blow up Ruby Memorial Hospital, kill police and kill hospital staff is charged with making terroristic threats.
Joseph Aaron Rerko, 21, of Fairview Park, Ohio, is charged with the felony by the Morgantown Police Department.
Police were called to Sports Page, a bar on High Street, about 8:15 p.m. on Friday night, for a disturbance with the possibility of a gun, according to a criminal complaint.
After an officer searched Rerko for weapons, Rerko said he wanted to kill himself, the complaint said. An ambulance was called and an officer explained to Rerko that since he threatened to kill himself, he had to go the hospital.
Rerko was told if he went voluntarily he would be able to get out sooner but if he resisted he would need to be cleared by doctors before he could leave, the complaint said.
Rerko began screaming profanities and said he was not going to the hospital multiple times before clenching his fist, dropping his weight and charging at an officer. The three officers on scene “took control of Rerko” and put him on the ground. It took all three officers to handcuff him, the complaint stated.
Once Rerko was at Ruby, Rerko was combative and two security officers, three nurses and a doctor tried to put him in restraints.
According to the criminal complaint, Rerko threatened multiple times to kill the police, their families and hospital staff for forcing him to go to the hospital. He also threatened to blow the hospital up, the complaint said.
Rerko’s ex-girlfriend told police he was out on bond for a domestic assault charge. He was charged with that crime on January 11.
Rerko was arraigned in Monongalia County Magistrate Court and bond was set at $25,000. On Monday afternoon, Rerko was in North Central Regional Jail and bond had not been posted.
