JEANNETTE, Pa. -- It played out more like a scene from a daytime soap opera, but a hospital scuffle with police led to one woman being shocked with a Taser outside a Westmoreland County hospital emergency room.
Police said the wife of 74-year-old Donald Thoma was being treated for excessive alcohol consumption at Excela Health in Jeannette on Sunday night.
Officers were told Thoma became irate when hospital staff wouldn't let him in to see her.
Channel 4 Action News' Jen Miele reported that Thoma, along with two friends -- Eugene Lucas, 59, and Barbara Matta, 45 -- were drunk and asked to leave by security.
"Once we had Ms. Matta and Mr. Lucas out in the parking lot, it became worse. Mr. Lucas took an aggressive stance towards me and at one point charge me. He had to be taken to the ground and placed into custody," said Office Justin Scalzo, of the Jeannette police.
Police said Matta tried to stop the arrest, elbowing an officer in the ribs in the process. She was shocked with a Taser and taken into custody.
That's when police said Thoma tried to push through security to get to his wife.
"He took a swing at one of the security guards, fought with two security guards," said Lucas.
Thoma, Matta and Lucas were taken to a holding cell inside the Jeannette Police Department.
Miele reported all three had a blood-alcohol level above 0.13 percent and were charged with rioting, aggravated assault and public drunkenness.
The hospital issued the following statement:
"We are grateful to Jeannette police for their timely response and quick attention to restoring the peace, allowing us to continue caring for the medical needs of others in our care."
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