Freeman Township man indicted in threat against Strong health center

FARMINGTON — A Freeman Township man accused of calling the Strong Area Health Center in August and threatening to shoot everyone there was indicted Wednesday on a charge or terrorizing.

Timothy R. Darnell, 41, of 342 Gilkey Hill Road was charged by a Franklin County grand jury.

State Trooper Andrew Hardy responded to the center about 11:40 a.m. Aug. 7 for a report of an outpatient calling and threatening employees. At the center, Hardy spoke to Franklin County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Steven Lowell, who said doctors confirmed Darnell called to get a prescription refilled, according to Hardy’s affidavit filed with a Farmington court.

“They refused to do so, and Timothy screamed at them over the phone that he was going to come there and shoot everyone,” according to the affidavit.

Hardy went to Darnell’s house, where he eventually surrendered and was taken to a hospital and then to the Franklin County Detention Center in Farmington. He was released on $200 cash bail and a supervised release agreement. Among his bail conditions are not to be within half a mile of the health center and to take all prescribed medication, according to a court document.

A conviction for terrorizing is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

[email protected]