The Center patient’s threat to ‘bring gun’ prompts St. Charles Redmond lockout, alert

Police say there was no crime, person may need mental health assistance

(Update: new information, comments from Redmond PD)

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- An upset patient's telephoned threat to bring a gun to the Redmond branch of The Center, an orthopedic and neurosurgery care facility, prompted a half-hour lockout and an "active weapons" alert at nearby St. Charles Redmond on Wednesday morning, Redmond police said.

NewsChannel 21 received word Wednesday morning that St. Charles Redmond staff received an alert of a possible "active weapons protocol." According to a staff member, alert recipients were alerted to "run, hide and fight."

A St. Charles representative confirmed to KTVZ the threat was real, but police clarified it happened at The Center, located across Larch Avenue, and was taken care of without further incident.

Redmond police Lt. Jesse Petersen told NewsChannel 21 a patient called at 9:42 a.m. Wednesday because they were upset with their care and threatened to bring a gun into The Center in Redmond.

Lisa Goodman, a spokeswoman for St. Charles Health System, said incidents like this happen periodically, and St. Charles goes into a lockout as a precautionary response.

Redmond police told NewsChannel 21 The Center, the main hospital across the street, and a few other neighboring business were closed.

The threat was cleared a little more than 30 minutes later, around 10:15 a.m., and the facility, along with the others in the area, then reopened, she said.

Lt. Petersen said officers responded to the scene but quickly determined there was no active threat.

Petersen said the patient, a man, did not have any weapons on him or in his possession.

He said police assisted the medical facility with providing the person the assistance the needed. He said the person may need some mental health assistance -- "just helping somebody going through a difficult time" -- and it appears no crime occurred.

"We focus more on getting them assistance and help, as opposed to anything else," Petersen said. "We looked at all criminal natures to make sure nothing had happened, and we determined that nothing had happened criminally."

Police would not release any more information about the patient. The Center has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Police do advise anyone going through a mental health crisis to call the Deschutes County Mental Health Crisis line at 1 (800) 875-7364 or at (541) 322-7500 ext. #9.