Man arraigned on heroin charge after hospital disturbance

YOUNGSTOWN — A Negley man was arraigned in municipal court today on a possession of heroin charge stemming from an Oct. 27 visit to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.

Reports said he verbally abused hospital staff, stole some equipment and left a dose of suspected heroin in a light fixture.

Duallen Stanford, 23, was given a bond of $7,500 by Judge Elizabeth Kobly, who also set a Nov. 23 pretrial hearing date for him.

Assistant City Prosecutor Jeffrey Moliterno told Judge Kobly that Stanford had holed up in a bathroom, swore at doctors and nurses and took what is known as an “arterial blood kit,” because he wanted to use some of the equipment in the kit to help him take drugs.

Reports from MercyHealth Hospital Police said Stanford was taken to the hospital by Canfield Police but reports did not say why. Hospital police were called because Stanford was holed up in a bathroom, yelling and screaming at staff, reports said.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com