Vt. Man Charged With Criminal Threatening at DHMC

Lebanon — A 43-year-old Bradford, Vt., man is facing a criminal threatening charge after police say he threatened security officers on Friday morning at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

The threat did not result in a lockdown, but officials at the Lebanon hospital “stepped up” their security presence after the incident, DHMC spokesman Rick Adams said.

Michael Gusha allegedly threatened security staff, according to a news release from Lebanon police.

Lebanon Police Chief Richard Mello said security personnel asked Gusha to leave the hospital because he was disorderly with staff, an action that prompted him to later call the hospital and allegedly make threats.

Gusha was released on personal recognizance bail and will answer to the misdemeanor charge on Nov. 5 in Lebanon District Court.

Normal hospital business was uninterrupted, Adams said.

“Our actions were taken out of both an abundance of caution and out of concern for patients, staff and families,” the spokesman said.

A year ago this month, the hospital was placed on lockdown for several hours after a 70-year-old woman was shot and killed inside one of DHMC’s intensive care units.

Her 49-year-old son, Travis Frink, of Warwick, R.I., was charged with first-degree murder and second-degree murder in the case and has pleaded not guilty. He may rely on an insanity defense, his attorneys have said.