A Carter County man faces a stalking charge after police say he harassed staff at a local hospital and made threats directed at one employee in particular.
An officer with the Carter County Sheriff’s Office arrested Tony Dean Slagle, 41, of 373 Renolds Road, Elizabethton, on Friday morning on a warrant charging him with one count of stalking.
Elizabethton Police Department Capt. Joy Shoun, who oversees the department’s Criminal Investigations Division, filed the warrant for Slagle’s arrest following an investigation into threats made on social media and a string of incidents involving Slagle and hospital staff that stretch back at least three months according to the warrant.
“I received information about potentially threatening statements posted on the Facebook account of Mr. Tony Slagle targeted at employees of Sycamore Shoals Hospital, specifically Mr. Phil Stover,” Shoun said.
In the social media postings, Shoun said Slagle expressed the belief that Stover and Sycamore Shoals Hospital implanted a nanochip inside of him.
“One post, dated March 3, 2016, at 3:26 p.m. mention’s Mr. Stover’s pregnant girlfriend stating ‘She will go down with the rest of them too,’ if she has any involvement with the nanochip.,” Shoun said. “A post from March 3, 2016 at 11:46 a.m. states ‘there ant enuf bricks in the wall at sycamore shoals to keep me from killin phillip r. stover for wht hes done to my life!’”
Shoun said she spoke with Stover, who she said was concerned for his safety due to the posts and Slagle’s previous actions. Shoun said officers have spoken with Slagle in the past regarding his belief that hospital staff implanted a microchip in his body.
“In December, officers learned that Slagle had visited the residence of Mr. Stover’s daughter on two occasions — Dec. 3, 2015 and Dec. 4, 2015 — attempting to locate Mr. Stover regarding the chip which he had allegedly implanted in Slagle’s body,” Shoun said. “At that time, Slagle was advised that he was not to return to that residence and told not to have any contact with Mr. Stover or his family.”
Following the December incident, Shoun said she spoke with Slagle on Jan. 7 about his allegations against Stover and the hospital.
“He again stated that Mr. Stover and Sycamore Shoals Hospital was responsible for implanting a chip into him that they were using to inflict pain on him,” Shoun said. “He advised me of various procedures and consultations he was having to validate his complaint and have the chip removed.”
While speaking with Slagle, Shoun said he reminded him that he was not to have any contact with Stover or his family.
“I also informed him that he was not to harass, follow, or in any way threaten any employees of that facility regarding this matter,” Shoun said. “He was recommended to seek mental health consultation, but he refused.”
On Jan. 30, Shoun said officers were called to Sycamore Shoals Hospital after staff called 911 to report Slagle was on the property and was yelling at hospital employees in the parking lot.
Following his arrest, Shoun was booked into the Carter County Detention Center but was later released after posting a $2,500 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Carter County General Sessions Court on April 5.