Hospital visit leads to charges

A Tamaqua man who tried to visit a patient in St. Luke’s Miners Hospital in Coaldale on June 29 ended up being arrested by Coaldale police.

Torrey S. Mueller, 41, of Broad Street, went to the hospital around 10 p.m. to visit with a family member. He was denied access to the patient by hospital staff, which resulted in his becoming angry and threatening the staff members. When hospital security arrived, Mueller began throwing around chairs and punching things. His assault on the hospital elevator caused injuries to his hand, which then bled all over the elevator. A hazardous materials team had to be called to clean up the blood.

Police were called and managed to restore order. They explained that Mueller could not visit the patient, as he was the one responsible for her injuries, a result of an earlier domestic assault.

Mueller was cited for harassment and disorderly conduct.