Florida Veteran meets with VA official he was accused of threatening

Veteran meets with VA official he was accused of threatening
Tribune Staff
By Howard Altman
Published: July 2, 2014

Five days after armed agents showed up at his house investigating whether he made a threat against a top local Veterans Administration official, St. Petersburg veteran Michael Henry met with that official Wednesday morning to discuss his care.

The meeting with Suzanne Klinker, director of the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center, came after agents from the VA's Office of Inspector General visited Henry on Friday to determine if he had threatened Klinker. No charges were ultimately filed, according to a spokesman for that office.

The visit by the agents, and the meeting with Klinker, were both prompted by Henry's complaints about the level of care he is receiving at the hospital.

Friday afternoon, Henry called the VA crisis line to complain that he was experiencing a delay in care.

About 90 minutes later, two agents and two St. Petersburg police officers arrived at his house. A police report states that the agents were investigating Henry because he threatened the VA over the phone, telling an employee with the agency “that he knew where Director Suzanne Klinker lived, gave her address, and also said the name of her son who lives at the residence.”

The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to press charges, according to the inspector general's office.

After Wednesday's meeting with Klinker, scheduled Monday after the Tribune contacted the Young center with questions about the threat allegations, Henry apologized to Klinker.

“I said I was sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable or made you feel weird,” Henry said he told Klinker. “I sincerely apologize for doing that. I didn't mean anything by it; I just want my health care and to be treated properly.”
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