The area around the Ravenna VA Clinic on North Chestnut Street has been reopened and a lockdown at Ravenna High School has been lifted after a man reportedly fired a shot from a gun into the air at the clinic on Wednesday morning.
According to a press release from the VA, at about 8:15 a.m. a clinic employee saw a man outside the clinic kneeling on the ground. The employee notified the clinic’s security officer, who went out to talk to the man.
“At that time, the man fired one shot into the air near the flagpole outside the clinic,” according to the VA statement. “The security guard ran back into the building, secured the building, called local authorities and began enacting the VA’s emergency response plan.”
According to the statement, Ravenna police were able to get the man to surrender with no injuries to himself or others. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Speidel’s pharmacy owner watches from across the street, recounts scene
Paul Marva, owner of Speidel’s Medical Arts Pharmacy in the North Chestnut Medical Arts building next door to the VA clinic, said he pulled into his parking lot at about 8:30 a.m., just as police were arriving.
He said he watched the scene unfold from his pharmacy window. He said around 10 a.m. or so, he saw an elderly man walk out of the VA with what looked like a pistol and drop it to the ground before being arrested and taken away in an ambulance.
“He was all hunched over and then he stood up and walked toward the police,” Marva said. “The four Ravenna police officers walked up to him and arrested him.”
Access to UH Portage Medical Center was limited and Ravenna High School was on a soft lockdown for several hours. The clinic is located at 6751 N. Chestnut St.
Ravenna Police Department: Law enforcement train for active shooter
Police dispatch would not provide any information and calls made to Ravenna police were not immediately returned.
Chief Deputy Ralph Spidalieri of the Portage County Sheriff’s Office said deputies have responded to the scene to assist Ravenna police with traffic control, stopping motorists and pedestrians from entering the area. Spidalieri said as far as he knew, no shots were actually fired, but he did not have much information.
Ravenna VA Clinic staff sheltered in place; facility closed today due to ’emergency situation’
The Ravenna VA Clinic posted on social media that it will be closed today due to an “emergency situation.”
They are asking patients not to come to the clinic today and said staff at the clinic are sheltering in place.
“We are thankful that VA staff and local law enforcement acted swiftly and appropriately to ensure the safety of all involved today,” said Jill Dietrich Mellon, CEO of Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, which runs the VA clinic. “We would also like to applaud the swift actions of our VA employee who noticed the man in distress and alerted authorities, and the actions of our security guard to keep everyone safe. We all play a role in caring for those in crisis.”
Ravenna High School was in a ‘soft lock down’
Ravenna High School ended its lockdown shortly after 10 a.m. In a second message to parents, Principal Beth Coleman said the school is out of lockdown and back on schedule, with students back in class.
She thanked Ravenna police and “all those who helped with the situation down the street.”
In a first all-call around 9:30 a.m., Ravenna High School Coleman assured parents that the school is taking precautions.
“Ravenna High School is currently in a ‘soft lock down’ as a precautionary measure due to a situation in the area,” Coleman told parents. “No students or staff are in danger.”
UH Portage Medical Center ends lockdown; ‘Everyone at the hospital is safe’
George Stamatis, a spokesman for University Hospitals, said in an email to the Record-Courier that a lockdown at the Ravenna hospital ended around 11 a.m.
“Everyone at the hospital is safe, and caregivers are continuing to take care of their patients,” Stamatis wrote in an earlier email to the Record-Courier announcing the lockdown. “All departments and patients have been informed, and entry/exit to the hospital is not permitted at this time. The ED remains open for emergencies. Other patient appointments for today are being rescheduled. The UH Portage local police department is working closely with the Ravenna police department for further updates and direction.”
Help available for those in mental health crisis
In its statement, the VA reminded people that help is available to those experiencing mental health issues.
For veterans experiencing a mental health crisis, VA has resources available. The Veterans Crisis Line is available at 1-800-273-8255, Press 1.
Help locally is also available 24 hours a day by calling the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Portage County at 330-678-HELP or 330-296-3555. You can also text “4hope” to 741741.
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism