Merle Mikal Hatch

Deadly force

Merle Hatch reportedly checked into the emergency room Sunday evening at Portland Adventist Medical Center, then threatened a hospital employee with a black object that appeared to be a gun. He reportedly walked out abruptly and pointed the object at a security car in an employee parking lot. Soon after police arrived, Hatch sprinted towards them with the black object pointed at them. Police shot and killed Hatch. The black object was apparently a landline phone handset.