LIBERTY — A Beachwood man is facing multiple charges after allegedly arming himself with a metal bar to escape a mental health facility — later hiding in a nearby residential garage Sunday night.

Gabriel Truitt, 26, pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal damaging and trespassing in Girard Municipal Court. He also appeared on a felony charge of burglary.

According to a police report, Liberty units were dispatched to Generations Behavioral Health on Colonial Drive in reference to an escaped patient, and dispatchers reported that Truitt “tore a metal bar off the wall” and attempted to physically assault staff members before climbing over a fence to flee the property.

The report states Truitt was last seen heading west, then northbound on Colonial Drive by staff members, with one noting they did not know if he still had the metal bar.

While searching the area, an officer spotted an open window on a garage, which they approached and found Truitt inside, according to the report.

The report states an officer gave Truitt verbal commands to “come on out,” and due to the situation’s nature, he was ordered to the ground and handcuffed.

The report states officers spoke with the homeowner, who told police that while the garage is connected to the residence, there is no access to the inside of the home from the garage. Officers checked the interior of the garage with the homeowner, who stated nothing looked amiss.

The report states officers spoke with a Generations staff member at the hospital, who said Truitt became aggressive towards staff, grabbing a large metal bar later determined to be a handicap assistance bar, and began threatening them with it.

The staff member said Truitt then removed her key card that operated the doors and he escaped from the facility’s rear. She refused to press charges against him or provide a written statement, confirming that no employees were struck.

The report states the officer contacted another staff member, who corroborated the account of events — also refusing to press criminal charges against Truitt.

Truitt is set to appear back in court Wednesday, court records show.

He is still being held on

bond.