Daniel L. Chentnik
A 32-year-old Gassville man faces charges after an he allegedly confronted security officials Tuesday afternoon at Baxter Regional Medical Center while armed with multiple weapons.
Daniel L. Chentnik is charged with aggravated assault and terroristic threatening, both Class D felonies, along with a misdemeanor of resisting arrest.
According to the probable cause affidavit from the Mountain Home Police Department, authorities received a call reporting a man with a gun in the parking lot at the hospital.
Officers located the man, later identified as Chentnik and found he was armed with a handgun, a bulletproof vest and several rifle magazines attached to the vest.
Baxter Regional Medical Center President and CEO Ron Peterson says, “Yesterday, Baxter Regional Medical Center avoided a potentially horrific event. Thanks to the quick reaction and bravery of a staff member, Baxter Regional Security and Mountain Home Police, we were kept safe. We want to offer sincere thanks to those individuals for helping keep Baxter Regional secure and protected.”
Negotiations with Chentnik began and officers were able to get him to remove the vest and drop the handgun, but he allegedly refused to obey any further commands.
At that point, Chentnik was subdued with a TASER, tackled from behind and taken into custody. He was taken into the hospital for treatment of his injuries, but “continued to be combative” and had his arms and legs restrained.
The affidavit says Chentnik was determined to be “suicidal and homicidal” and had come to the hospital after speaking with grief counselors, but “still intended to harm himself.”
Authorities say Chentnik arrived at the hospital and placed an AR-style rifle under his chin. A witness stated they were calling 911 and Chentnik allegedly stated “he couldn’t pull the trigger himself, so he would have the police shoot him.”
That part of the incident was witnessed by several members of the public, some of whom sought protection by ducking behind cars.
The affidavit states Chentnik’s bond has been set at $250,000.
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