Hospital Working to Increase Security After Two Psych Patients Escaped
Both of the escapees were considered dangerous.
— -- The Washington state psychiatric hospital where two dangerous patients escaped last week said today it is working with law enforcement to increase security.
The changes at Western State Hospital were announced in a statement by Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, in which it also thanked law enforcement for capturing the two men.
"The hospital has restricted patient-earned privileges that allow them escorted and unescorted access to Western State Hospital grounds and off-campus excursions throughout the weekend as the hospital increases its security measures," the statement said.
"The hospital’s security team has coordinated closely with law enforcement to organize additional patrols on campus," it said. "Hospital staff are also focused on how to more securely serve higher risk populations in the civil commitment portion of the hospital."
Anthony Garver and Alexander Adams escaped from the hospital Wednesday night. Adams was apprehended Thursday, and Garver was captured Friday evening, police said.
Garver, 28 -- who was arrested in 2013 for first-degree murder and accused of torturing a woman to death, but found too mentally ill to stand trial -- was captured in the woods near the Washington-Idaho border Friday, after being tracked down by a police dog, Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich tells ABC News.
As of Friday evening, Knezovich said Garver was under arrest and en route to a hospital, suffering from dehydration.