Man uses BB gun to demand hospital care-Pennington faces felony charge for emergency room incident

Felony charges have been lodged against a local man who arrived at River Park Hospital on his skateboard and then brandished a BB gun demanding to see a nurse.
The suspect, Michael W. Pennington, 21, is charged with aggravated assault, possession of marijuana and resisting arrest for the incident in the hospital’s emergency reception area. The altercation ended with a restroom being nearly destroyed, and the suspect hit with a burst of pepper spray, as he fought with police who were called to the scene.
According to police reports, Pennington walked into the hospital around 4 a.m. brandishing a BB gun, threatening to use the weapon if he did not see a nurse. A security guard was able to get the BB gun away from Pennington, with some people in the emergency room unaware Pennington was not brandishing a real gun.
When police officers arrived, Pennington reportedly told them he wanted to go back to jail. He then claimed he wanted to see a doctor before he went to jail and then headed for a nearby bathroom as he was not under arrest at that time.
However, officers were hit by the bathroom door which Pennington kicked open, prompting them to tell him he was under arrest. A fight then ensued, continuing into the bathroom where a commode and soap dispenser were broken. Pennington was then pepper sprayed and placed in handcuffs. Lawmen said he tried to kick out the back window of the patrol car and continued being combative even after arriving at Warren County Jail.