Man surrenders after briefly taking clinic patient hostage

HEBER CITY — A 35-year-old armed man surrendered peacefully Tuesday after briefly taking one patient hostage at a medical clinic.

Royal K. Giles of Pleasant Grove was being held at the Wasatch County Jail following the Tuesday morning incident, Heber City Police Sgt. Jason Bradley said. Charges were pending.

Bradley said they were continuing to investigate his motive for entering the Wasatch Medical Clinic and demanding to see a doctor.

When he was not allowed to see a physician, Giles allegedly took a male patient at the clinic as a hostage, holding him with a handgun, Bradley said.

The suspect was convinced within minutes to surrender by Heber City Police Sgt. Perry Rose. There were no injuries.

Bradley could not immediately confirm reports that Rose knows someone in Giles' family, opening the way for negotiations.

He said that is among details still under investigation.

It's not exactly known how many people were inside the clinic when the incident started, but Bradley said some inside escaped by crawling through windows. The clinic has at least six employees, including four physicians and two physician's assistants.