No charges for man who made threatening call to hospital

UPDATE: Police arrested a man outside of Mercy Medical Center this morning after he made a threatening phone call to the hospital, officials said.

Managers at the hospital were notified to secure their units around 8 a.m., hospital spokeswoman Karen Vander Sanden said. The call was received by the hospital's psychiatric unit.

“There was an individual who made a threatening phone call to Mercy claiming he was armed and was going to hurt people,” Vander Sanden said. “He has been apprehended and was not armed.”

Police arrested James Moore, 49, just outside the emergency room entrance. Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said Moore would have a psychiatric evaluation and would not be charged.

Police Lt. Tim Daily said Moore was inside the hospital when he made the call.

“He was seeking help and the conversation escalated into what could be interpreted as threats,” Daily said. “The police and the hospital took normal precautions.”

Daily confirmed that no weapons were involved in the incident. No one was injured.

By 8:30 a.m., patients were coming and going from the hospital normally.