Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 9, 1994 TAG: 9411090084
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
U.S. Magistrate Glen Conrad, at an initial hearing, ordered Clarence Milton Kirtley, 69, held for psychiatric "observation, evaluation and necessary treatment" for no more than 45 days.
A criminal complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Roanoke said Kirtley came into the medical center about 1:15 p.m. Monday, pulled a 9 mm pistol and told a nurse he would kill her.
Kirtley was restrained, and the gun was taken away from him, according to the complaint. No one was hurt.
Kirtley, an amputee who uses a wheelchair, faces a felony assault charge and a misdemeanor charge of firearms possession.
The psychiatric examination is to determine whether Kirtley is "presently insane or otherwise so mentally incompetent as to be unable to understand the proceedings against him or properly assist in his own defense," according to Conrad's order.
The examination also will determine whether Kirtley suffered from a mental disease or defect when the incident occurred, and if so, "whether he lacked the substantial capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct."
John Presley, medical center director, said Monday that Kirtley had been a patient at the hospital's rehabilitation treatment center and left against medical advice a month ago. Kirtley called the hospital Monday asking to be readmitted and was told there was no bed space available, Presley said.
The criminal complaint lists Kirtley as being homeless.
by CNB