Man charged in Valley ER incident has history of weapons charges

A60-year-old man facinggun-related charges after an Oct. 3 incident in the emergency room at Soldiers Memorial Hospital in Middletonwas also charged with threatening to kill police officers in Newfoundland in 2010.

RCMP arrested Mark Baltzer of North Kentvilleafterreceiving a call about an armed man causing a disturbance at the hospital.

Baltzeris charged with possession of a firearm while prohibited,unauthorized possession of aRemington.22-calibrerifle without a licenceand careless use of a firearm.

Psychiatric exam ordered

He isundergoing a 30-day psychiatric assessment at the East Coast Forensic Hospital in Dartmouth to determine whether he is fit to stand trial. He is set to appear in Digby provincial court on Nov. 3.

Cpl. Jennifer Clarke, spokeswoman for the Nova Scotia RCMP, said she could not release further details about the hospital incident because the case is before the court.

In June 2010,Baltzer was arrested aboard a Marine Atlantic ferry after a passenger contacted RCMP with a report that the manwas planning to kill police officers in Corner Brook, N.L.

Diagnosed with bipolar disorder

RCMP searched his car and found weapons, including a machete, a rifle and a crossbow.

Following a psychiatric assessment, Baltzer was found not criminally responsible for those charges after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Last year, while apatient at the East Coast Forensic Hospital, Balzerdrove away from the facility.He was located the followingday in Cumberland County.