Two minor incidents amid St. Charles Bend heightened security

(Update: False-alarm lockout, small Dumpster fire)

St. Charles Bend had extra security officers and police patrols at the hospital Thursday due to “very specific threats” made by a drunk Emergency Department patient nearly a month ago, although officials stressed that interviews conducted since indicate the person “poses no risk” to the facility.

There were two unrelated incidents Thursday morning – the first shortly after 6 a.m., when a hospital staff member saw a suspicious-looking package near a bus stop.

That prompted a 20-minute lockout of the hospital, meaning no one could enter but people could leave. It was lifted after it was determined the package contained construction materials — reportedly a thermometer used when pouring cement. The lockout ended around 6:30 a.m., a hospital spokeswoman said.

Later in the morning, a Dumpster fire sent light smoke swirling into the sky from outside the hospital. A Bend Fire Department engine crew quickly extinguished it, with no damage to the facility or grounds, Battalion Chief Dave Howe said.

Here’s the full text of a message NewsChannel 21 obtained Wednesday:

Background: On Feb. 15, a highly intoxicated individual was treated in the ED. During his visit, this individual made very specific threats of harm to occur on a specific date (March 8).

Based on those stated threats:

The St. Charles Safety Team, Security and Legal have collaborated closely with local law enforcement (Bend Police Department). Bend PD and the Mental Health Crisis Team of Deschutes County have interviewed the individual twice since the individual’s ED visit. It is their assessment that this individual poses NO risk to St. Charles. Out of an abundance of caution though, St. Charles will take the following steps: We will add extra security on March 8 and these security officers will be highly visible in the ED, and at the two main entrances into the hospital. We also have assurance from Bend PD that they will have increased presence of uniformed police officers on site. A process is in place to monitor the individual’s movements during March 8, and St. Charles will initiate a lockout if necessary. This individual has also been served a 60-day “No Trespass” order, which restricts his access to St. Charles facilities, except in the case of seeking emergency care (which will require a police escort). We will follow our normal processes for monitoring during the 60-day period, and will re-evaluate as necessary

St. Charles Public Information Officer Lisa Goodman confirmed the content of the message and provided this statement to NewsChannel 21:

“We did receive a threat and have looked into it. We are coordinating with local law enforcement to have an increased security presence tomorrow.

“We do want to reassure the community that it is safe to come and receive care here. We are a large public facility that provides medical care to the community, and like all such facilities, this is just a reality we must be prepared for.”