APNewsBreak: Report cites lax security at mental hospital
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Corrections officials who investigated the April escape of two violent patients from Washington state's largest psychiatric hospital say they discovered a list of mistakes, blunders and deceptions.
The review of security at Western State Hospital determined there were 25,000 missing master keys and thousands of missing tools used to open patient windows.
Investigators also said in their report that management was unwilling to recognize that failing to focus on security put patients and the public at risk.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The report obtained by The Associated Press said that attitude was the main cause of the April 6 escape by Anthony Garver, who was confined amid allegations that he tortured and killed a woman, and Mark Alexander Adams, who has multiple domestic violence convictions. Both were captured within days.
Hospital CEO Cheryl Strange says the hospital had made significant safety improvements since the escapes.