St. Charles Bend lockout over after nearly an hour

(Update: Lockout lasted nearly an hour; police details)

St. Charles Bend was placed on lockout for nearly an hour Monday afternoon due to a “threat investigation,” hospital officials and police confirmed.

“St. Charles Bend went on lockout at approximately 2:42 p.m. today at the request of the Bend Police Department,” the hospital said in a statement. “The police arrived at the Bend hospital and conducted an investigation of a potential threat before lifting the lockout at about 3:40 p.m.”

“We thank you for your patience and cooperation in avoiding the Bend hospital during this timeframe as we all worked together to keep our patients and community safe,” the statement concluded.

Police Lt. Clint Burleigh said the threat was not directed at St. Charles or any individual there, only to investigate the possibility a person they are looking for might be there. A search of the hospital and parking lot found nothing related to the person, who was still being sought, Burleigh said.

A lockout, also conducted at schools or other public facilities, means people cannot enter the hospital, but are allowed to leave, and operations can continue as normal in the facility. It is a lower level than a lockdown, in which no one can enter or leave and all people within a facility are directed to stay where they are.

However, some people were reporting on NewsChannel 21’s Facebook page that at least some staff or visitors were not allowed to leave during the lockout.