After a tense search, Christopher Morgan, the psychiatric patient who escaped from a medical facility in Middletown, New York, has been found and taken into custody. New York State Police expressed their thanks for the public's help and the Port Jervis Police Department’s role in Morgan’s apprehension, saying, "We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the public and the Port Jervis Police Department for their assistance in locating and apprehending Christopher R. Morgan." Morgan was located following alerts from authorities that advised the public to avoid contact and call the state police immediately if he was spotted, according to an update from CBS News New York.
Morgan had initially escaped from Garnet Health Medical Center yesterday, triggering a community-wide alert, surveillance footage captured him making the bold escape from the facility, sprinting down a hallway, this is according to New York Post. He was reported to have been wearing a long white jacket when he fled at approximately 2:40 p.m., with state police taking the extra step of warning locals not to approach him for their personal safety. The police shared a public warning yesterday before Morgan's capture, which spread rapidly on social media platforms. "If you see Morgan, do not approach him," the initial post read, indicating a potential risk to the community while the patient was unaccounted for.
In the aftermath of the incident, New York State Police took Morgan to their Middletown Troop F location for processing, further stating, "We appreciate the continued support of the community in helping us maintain safety in our neighborhoods," as obtained by CBS News New York.
Garnet Health Medical Center, where Morgan fled, is a notable establishment with seven floors and 383 patient beds in the Orange County area. Despite the end of the immediate crisis, details regarding Morgan's condition, why he was at the hospital or why authorities initially instructed the community to maintain a safe distance upon sighting him have not been disclosed, the police and the medical center have yet to provide additional information about the patient and circumstances surrounding his escape.
