Bismarck Tribune

By JENNYMICBy JENNYMICHAEL

A Bismarck man charged last week for chasing his supervisor with a screwdriver before plunging it into his own neck is being held in the Burleigh County Detention Center.

Robert Gray, 49, had escaped from the St. Alexius Medical Center Thursday morning. He has been charged with terrorizing and escape, both Class C felonies.

South Central District Judge Bruce Haskell set bond for Gray Monday at $20,000 cash.

Burleigh County Assistant State's Attorney Lloyd Suhr requested the high bond due to Gray's extensive out-of-state criminal history and high flight risk.

Suhr said Gray was convicted in 1979 of homicide and assault with intent to commit homicide in Maryland.

According to court documents, Gray was convicted in 1997 of felon in possession of a firearm in Morton County and served three years in the state penitentiary. He has multiple convictions for violent crimes in Pennsylvania, including burglary, robbery and aggravated assault, the documents said.

Gray allegedly attempted to assault his supervisor with a screwdriver July 10 after an argument. When police arrived, Gray is said to have backed into the Northbrook parking lot while holding the screwdriver at his own neck.

Police said Gray grabbed the screwdriver with both hands and pushed it into his neck. He was taken to St. Alexius Medical Center but wasn't charged until Friday, Police Lt. Dan Donlin said.

Suhr said the charges weren't filed until Friday because a report wasn't given to the state attorney's office until Wednesday, and he didn't receive it until late Thursday morning. Suhr said he was out of the office Thursday afternoon and Friday for meetings.

Gray walked away from St. Alexius Thursday morning while being taken from the emergency room to the psychiatric ward.

Had officers been able to arrest Gray before complaints were signed Friday afternoon, they would have taken him into custody on committal papers from the hospital, Donlin said.

When complaints were signed Friday afternoon, Burleigh County warrant officers went to Gray's apartment to arrest him. Gray called 911 around the same time to say he had hurt himself and needed help.

Responding officers entered Gray's apartment and saw him face down on the bedroom floor with a substantial amount of blood around him. He had a pulse and was breathing but was unresponsive.

The officers noticed a laceration on the inside of Gray's left forearm.

Donlin said Monday that Gray's injury was not considered serious. St. Alexius did not have room for him Friday night, and Medcenter One would not admit him, Donlin said.

Burleigh County Sheriff's Major Nick Sevart said a doctor cleared Gray to be placed in the jail rather than at the hospital or in the psychiatric ward.

Sheriff Steve Berg said Gray will be watched closely at the detention center, with officers checking on him every 10 to 15 minutes.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com)