Man arrested in Allegheny General Hospital attack

A 43-year-old man was arrested this week after police said he went on a rampage in a hospital emergency room and attacked at least three people, punching them and throwing a computer at a nurse.

Michael Robert Johnson, whose home address is unknown, faces three counts each of aggravated assault, simple assault, and harassment; and a disorderly conduct charge. He was in Allegheny County Jail Wednesday on $50,000 bail. He has a preliminary hearing March 27.

Highmark Health Police Officer Alexander Edwards was patrolling the front entrance of Allegheny General Hospital’s emergency room Monday when he heard a lot of commotion and screaming near the triage area, according to a criminal complaint.

After entering the ER, Edwards saw Johnson punching and pushing several nurses, along with a security guard, the complaint said. Officer Edwards swept Johnson’s legs and got him to the floor; Johnson then was carried to a triage room and placed on a bed, where the doctor ordered restraints be placed on him.

A victim told police that while Johnson initially was inside the triage room, he became belligerent and threw the computer at her before walking out the room, the complaint said. Johnson walked up to a second victim and slammed her head and body up against the glass and began punching her in the face for no reason, police said.

When a third victim tried to intervene by pulling Johnson off the second victim, Johnson turned around and punched them in the face and chest area several times.

Highmark Health police said that Johnson previously attempted to strike security officers and medical personnel at the hospital about a year ago, but was never arrested for those acts.