Penn Township man charged with assaulting nurse, threatening hospital staff waives preliminary hearing

A Penn Township man charged with assaulting a nursing assistant and threatening UPMC Lititz Hospital will have his case proceed to county court after waiving his preliminary hearing last month.

Brian Keith Rineer, of the 200 block of Loghes Drive, waived his preliminary hearing before Judge Joseph Stauffer on Oct. 31 on charges of aggravated assault and disorderly conduct.

Rineer, 56, is accused of twice pushing the nursing assistant upon arriving at the hospital the evening of Oct. 12.

In addition to pushing the victim, Rineer is also accused of threatening to hit her and hurt her.

Staff members told police they physically restrained Rineer and locked him inside a hospital room when he continued to berate and threaten other employees.

Inside the locked room Rineer began punching a glass door and screaming, prompting hospital staff to close down the emergency room and delaying other patients’ needs, employees told police.

Police were called to the hospital shortly before 8:30 p.m. after staff told them Rineer was acting out of control in the emergency room.

Rineer is currently free on $50,000 unsecured bail.

Northern Lancaster Regional Police Officer Anthony Liguori filed the charges.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.