Armed man arrested after barricading himself at Primary Children’s Hospital
SALT LAKE CITY UT June 5 2017 — Primary Children’s Hospital got a scare over the weekend as police attempted to take a man who barricaded himself in a bathroom into custody.
On Friday, Kenneth Ray Underwood, 54, who is listed as homeless, walked into the hospital and barricaded himself inside a restroom on the first floor, according to a Salt Lake County Jail report.
Hospital spokeswoman Jennifer Toomer Cook said Underwood walked into the hospital “in the middle of the night.”
Underwood never accessed any of the areas where patients are kept, she said, adding that those areas are always secured, but the front entrance to the hospital is public.
Hospital security was able to slightly crack the bathroom door open and witnessed a syringe next to him, the report states. He was also armed with a box cutter.
“Kenneth threatened to kill police officers,” the report states.
Underwood caused damage to some of the tiles and a wall in the bathroom, according to police.
The hospital cafeteria, which is next to that restroom, was cleared and blocked off, Toomer said. At least one officer was assaulted as University police and hospital security attempted to take him into custody, the report states.
Underwood was arrested for investigation of making a terroristic threat, assault on a police officer, criminal mischief, trespassing, unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon, interfering with an arrest, threat of violence, possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct.
Court records show Underwood has a lengthy criminal history. Toomer said the man does not have any connections to any patients or staff at the hospital.
ksl.com
