A Jay man who used a loaded shotgun to try to get past personnel to see his wife in the hospital on May 29 faces one count felony assault with a deadly weapon.
Eric Wayne Reitz, 57, 4414 Wildhorn Trail, attempted to enter Santa Rosa Hospital on Berryhill Road to see his wife and got extremely irate when he was told by hospital staff there was no visitation allowed, according to a Milton Police Department report.
A hospital security officer who was in contact with dispatch said a man, later identified as Reitz, had a shotgun pointed at the officer and a nurse outside the hospital. The security officer said Reitz went to his truck to retrieve the shotgun when he was denied entrance and returned with it, the report said.
By the time law enforcement arrived, Reitz had returned the weapon to his 2000 Chevy Silverado, behind the seat.
The security officer pointed the truck out to deputies once they had detained Reitz in handcuffs and placed him in the rear of the patrol car, according to the report.
When the deputy opened the vehicle door, he discovered the butt of a shotgun or rifle behind the seat. The deputy saw a black long barreled Mossberg 88 .12 gauge pump shotgun and Mossberg 702 Plinkster .22-caliber rifle both located behind the driver's seat, the report noted.
It was determined neither of the firearms was stolen.
The security guard told deputies that when he informed Reitz no visitors were allowed in the hospital at that time, Reitz stated, “You will see” over and over to him before Reitz went to his truck to retrieve the shotgun and pointed it at them. Reitz then 'racked' the gun, as if he were loading it, then pointed it at them again.
The report said when Reitz heard police sirens, he put the gun back in his truck, the report said.
When deputies spoke to Reitz, he stated he never pulled a gun out on anyone and that he was only trying to see his wife. Reitz said he became angry when he was told he could not see his wife. Reitz then contradicted his first statement and advised the gun is not even loaded.
Reitz admitted to going to his truck and getting the weapon after hospital staff warned him he could not visit. He said he loaded one bullet into the magazine loading port and racked the shotgun to load the bullet into the barrel and pointed the gun at the security officer and nurse, stating, “I only did it to scare them.”
Reitz said he then unloaded the shotgun and placed the bullet in his shorts pocket, which deputies found when they searched him, the report said.
Reitz was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and transported to Santa Rosa County Jail. His bond was set at $20,000.
