BUTLER TWP — A 72-year-old Franklin Township man was arrested Monday after allegedly threatening a pair of staff members at Butler Memorial Hospital and later showing up at the facility with a handgun.

Butler Township police said hospital security officers found Darrel L. Kearns shortly before 1:10 p.m. with a .45-caliber pistol, three loaded magazines, a knife and a flashlight.

Police said Kearns, whose wife was recently released from the hospital to a nursing home, allowed security officers to disarm him and no one was injured. Investigators confirmed Kearns holds a valid concealed carry gun license.

Kearns, a former state constable, called the incident an “accident,” according to police.

District Judge Sue Haggerty subsequently arraigned Kearns on a felony count of terroristic threats. He was placed in the Butler County Prison and later released after posting $50,000 bail.

According to court documents, on Friday hospital staff informed Kearns by telephone that his wife, who was a patient at the hospital, could not be transferred to a nursing home because of an “insurance issue.”

He was told that he would have to come to BMH and complete paperwork to receive medical benefits.

The staff member who spoke to Kearns about the matter described him as being “verbally aggressive,” police said, adding that he later asked to speak to another staff member and “adopted an aggressive tone with her” as well.

The second staffer advised Kearns she located a nursing home for his wife, but the news apparently did not satisfy him.

According to Butler Township police officer Jason Gueck's affidavit, Kearns allegedly told the staff member that “if my wife gets to this place and (it's) a rat hole, I am pulling her out and I am coming back to find you,” and hung up before staff could explain the process.

Police report the next day, Saturday, the two hospital staff members became scared and believed Kearns was attempting to contact them after his wife was discharged from the hospital.

Due to the alleged earlier threats, hospital staff filed a report with authorities and were instructed to call police if the defendant returned to the hospital.

About 12:40 p.m. Monday, Kearns appeared at the hospital's out-patient registration desk asking to see one of the staff members he spoke to Friday. Additionally, police said a nurse reported seeing Kearns walking around on the fifth floor — the same floor where his wife was treated.

Security was alerted and stopped the defendant. Police were subsequently notified and responded to the hospital.

According to court documents, Kearns told police he “cares very much for his wife and upon seeing the conditions of the new nursing home she was sent to (that) he was upset.”

The affidavit goes on to report Kearns denied making any threats to hospital staff and called the allegations a “vindictive lie.”

When questioned about the gun he had at the hospital, police said Kearns told officers he always carries one. He said he was aware that he was not supposed to have a gun at the hospital but forgot to remove it.

Police noted that signs are posted at each entrance to the hospital advising firearms are prohibited on the premises.

Kearns claimed what happened Monday was an accident.

Officers questioned why he came with three magazines. According to the affidavit, Kearns told investigators “his instructor told him to always have an extra magazine.”

Kearns told Haggerty at his arraignment that he is retired, is a U.S. Marine veteran and has a 45-year-old child.

He also is a former state constable. He was appointed in 2003 to the elected post in Franklin Township, according to Butler County Clerk of Courts records, and apparently served the unexpired term through 2007.