BLAINE (WATE) - A Grainger County doctor was held at knifepoint Tuesday by a man in a doctor's office.
Sheriff's deputies say Vern Evart Long, 34, of
Morristown, entered the Blaine Medical Center at 11:00 a.m.
and barricaded himself with Dr. John Neece, 55, in an exam room during
his appointment. Long moved a couch and other office furniture in front
of the door and locked it.
Deputies and Blaine police tried hostage negotiation, but Long gave them a two-minute deadline to talk to his wife.
"He hung up the phone and at that time, we heard commotion in the doctor's office. At that point, we decided we were going to have to make entry, that it was too detrimental to the safety of the doctor and the suspect," said sheriff's Detective Randy Summer.
They ended the hostage situation by busting down the door and subduing Long.
"The suspect was on the floor with his back against the wall with the doctor sort of in his lap in a choke hold," Summer said.
"This guy could have been a very, very dangerous individual. He was strapped and ready with knives and razor blades. That tells me he thought this process through," said Sheriff Scott Layel.
They say Long threatened to kill Dr. Neece and cut his own throat.
The doctor received superficial injuries. Long was taken to Tennova Medical Center and then to UT Medical Center for treatment. Police say while he is fine medically, he is not psychologically.
Long is likely to face a long list of charges, including especially aggravated assault, kidnapping and vandalism.
Blaine Police Chief Jamie Winstead said Long has a history of violence.
Officials have not said what started the incident, but they did say Long had an argument with his wife before it happened.
Sheriff Layel says authorities are seeking to enter Long into a mental health facility.
6 News spoke with the director of community mental health services at Cherokee Health Systems. They are also investigating the incident.
"We're thankful everything turned out relatively okay for everyone involved. Our primary concern at this point is being supportive to our staff and anyone else impacted by the events there," said Dr. William Berez, with Cherokee Health Systems.
Vern Evart Long (source: Grainger County Sheriff's Office)
Dr. John Neece (source: Grainger County Sheriff's Office)
The suspect barricaded himself in a doctor's office with the doctor. (source: Grainger County Sheriff's Office)
