DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Winfield Chief of Police David Schar have announced that Judge Robert Walsh granted the state’s motion to detain pre-trial a Glen Ellyn man accused of bringing a loaded firearm into the Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital waiting room.
Michael Vangarsse, 38, appeared at First Appearance Court and was charged with three counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, a Class 4 felony.
On Sept. 27 approximately 1 a.m., Winfield police officers responded to Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital for a subject with a gun. Upon their arrival, officers allegedly observed Vangarsse disarmed and restrained by security guards. Following an investigation into the matter, it is alleged that Vangarsse arrived at the hospital emergency room and was directed by a nurse, who told him to change into a hospital gown, to the back area of the hospital.
It is alleged that when he refused to change, a security guard told him to change into a gown at which time Vangarsse shoved the security guard and began to walk towards the interior of the hospital. It is alleged that two additional security guards arrived to assist, and a struggle ensued during which one of the security guards observed Vangarsse reaching for his waist. It is further alleged that during the struggle, Vangarsse repeatedly reached for the firearm but was unable to retrieve it. It is alleged that after security guards disarmed and detained Vangarsse, they located a loaded Baretta 92 9mm handgun with one round in the chamber and 15 rounds in the magazine as well as three fully loaded magazines with a total of 60 rounds in Vangarsse’s waistband.
“The allegations that Mr. Vangarsse brought a loaded gun into a hospital emergency room are extremely disturbing,” Berlin said. “The threat Mr. Vangarsse allegedly posed to patients and their families, doctors, nurses and hospital staff, is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in DuPage County. Hospitals are no setting for a loaded weapon. They are a place for the sick or injured to go to receive care without having to worry for their personal safety. I commend security at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital for their outstanding work in safely getting control of the situation and detaining Mr. Vangarsse until authorities arrived.”
“Fortunately for everyone involved, the coordination and training of emergency room staff and hospital security at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital and their relationship with responding officers from the Winfield Police Department allowed the situation to be resolved successfully and without significant injury or use of force,” Schar said. “We are grateful to the employees at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital for their outstanding response which allowed an illegal weapon to be taken off the streets.”
Vangarsse’s next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 26 in front of Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh.
