Man accused of threatening guests at motel
BUTLER TWP — A man with what turned out to be a toy gun is accused of threatening guests early Sunday morning at a motel on Route 8 south.
The suspect, Patrick A. McDonald, 49, who also was a longtime guest at the Super 8, had a hammer, too, while making the alleged threats, authorities said.
But he apparently only used the hammer to smash the plastic toy gun before officers arrived, according to Butler Township police.
No one was injured in the unusual call that ended with McDonald's arrest.
Police did not say what prompted the incident, but they believe the defendant was under the influence of a prescription opioid-based painkiller.
Officers said they went to the motel about 3:15 a.m. after getting a report of an intoxicated man pointing a gun at another guest. The caller believed the gun was a toy.
Police spoke to two men, who recounted that McDonald had threatened them as they tried to check in. He pointed a gun at them, they said. In his other hand, the suspect had a hammer.
McDonald at some point told the alleged victims that “it's a toy gun,” according to charging documents.
He eventually placed the plastic gun on the ground and struck it with the hammer, breaking it into pieces.
“Both victims stated they felt threatened by McDonald,” documents said.
The defendant admitted having the toy gun, police said, but he denied pointing it at anyone. He also acknowledged that he had smashed the gun.
Officers said they recovered some of the broken pieces from the trash can in the lobby and the doorway to the suspect's room.
“The toy gun was black with a silver slide,” documents said, “and approximately 6 inches in length.”
Police said the defendant, who appeared impaired, admitted to taking oxycodone for his back pain.
District Judge Wayne Seibel arraigned McDonald on a misdemeanor charge of terroristic threats and summary charges of harassment and public drunkenness. He is free on $5,000 unsecured bail.
