HOSPITAL INCIDENT IN W. TOLEDO

Bedford Township man accused of fondling boy

7/20/2014

A Bedford Township man faces multiple charges in Toledo Municipal Court after authorities said he fondled a boy in a restroom at Mercy St. Anne Hospital in West Toledo.

Police have charged Dean E. Elmer, 54, of 6222 S. Dixie Highway with gross sexual imposition, inducing panic, and vandalism stemming from the incident Thursday.

According to police statements filed with Toledo Municipal Court, Mr. Elmer entered a restroom with a 13-year-old boy, where he allegedly pulled down the boy’s pants and fondled him. The charges state the boy has a mental or physical condition that would impair his ability to respond and that the defendant likely would have known this.

Mr. Elmer, who was a patient at the hospital while the boy was visiting, also is charged with inducing panic for running and hiding from hospital police and with vandalism for later kicking out and destroying a hospital window in an attempt to flee.

Mr. Elmer, who Lucas County jail records say was arrested Friday, remained in the jail Saturday pending arraignment Monday in the Toledo court.

Kathleen Valtin, a Mercy spokesman, said the hospital is “fully cooperating” with the Toledo police investigation and was unable to comment further about the incident.