A Verona man who was arrested three times this year for allegedly causing problems at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison is accused of punching an emergency room nurse who tried to give him a covid test.

John Meckel, 51, of the 400 block of Seldon Avenue was charged by Highmark Health police with a felony count of aggravated assault along with counts of simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment.

He was being detained in the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh in lieu of a $10,000 cash bond. He faces a preliminary hearing before District Judge Carolyn Bengel on May 31, according to court records.

Three security guards and two Highmark officers responded to the hospital’s emergency room about 1:45 p.m. on May 5 when Meckel became combative after being taken to the hospital by Verona police, according to a criminal complaint.

Police and security officers helped the emergency room staff restrain Meckel, who was thrashing violently and trying to get out of bed, until medication could be administered to calm him down, investigators said.

A registered nurse told police that Meckel punched her in the stomach when she tried to do a nasal swab to check whether he was positive for covid-19, according to the complaint. Police said the incident was corroborated by an eyewitness.

About 45 minutes after the first incident, hospital police and security guards were called back to Meckel’s room because he was thrashing on the bed to try to break free of his restraints and was screaming at the staff attempting to treat him, the complaint said.

An hour later, police said, they returned to the room when Meckel started accosting the staff and again tried to break out of the restraints.

Police said the incidents on May 5 marked the third time this year that Meckel caused problems at the hospital.

On March 9, Verona police charged Meckel with making terroristic threats, harassment and disorderly conduct, according to court records.

He was charged by Verona police March 13 with disorderly conduct and harassment.

Police in Verona also charged Meckel with stalking and harassment May 5.

He faces a June 26 preliminary hearing on those previous three sets of charges before District Judge Anthony L. DeLuca, court records show.

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