Escaped Middletown psychiatric patient in custody, charged with assaulting hospital worker
State police say Christopher Morgan, 40, was captured late Friday morning in Port Jervis after an extensive search since his escape from Garnet Medical Center miles away.
More Stories
An escaped psychiatric patient on the run for nearly 24 hours in Orange County is now in custody.
State police say Christopher Morgan, 40, was captured late Friday morning in Port Jervis after an extensive search since his escape from Garnet Medical Center miles away.
Morgan escaped from the hospital’s secured mental health unit on Thursday, at approximately 2:39 p.m. State police shared images of him at the time with the public to aid in their search, including a surveillance photo appearing to show Morgan running down a hospital hallway. The images were widely shared by concerned community members.
“That’s the last person you’d want to get out. I’m glad they caught him. That was definitely scary,” says Toni Nicosia, who works in Middletown.
His escape prompted a large manhunt, and state police helicopters were seen overhead near the hospital. Authorities say he was captured with the assistance of Port Jervis police.
According to court records obtained by News 12, a temporary extreme risk protection order was filed against Morgan Feb. 24 in Orange County Court while he was receiving psychiatric hospital care. The document states he called a military recruiting station in the town of Wallkill Feb. 22 and threatened to bomb the Port Jervis and Middletown police departments. It alleges that Morgan is considered a danger to himself and others and indicates he has pending firearms charges.
Authorities have not commented on the allegations outlined in court documents.
Morgan was arrested on Friday. He is charged with making a terroristic threat for the February incident and robbery for allegedly punching a hospital worker while stealing her badge during his escape. According to the criminal complaint, the worker suffered facial and body lacerations causing her to receive thirteen stitches.
“Terrifying for her and everyone else who works there,” Nicosia says.
Morgan was arraigned in City of Middletown Court and ordered to be held in Orange County Jail on $250,000 cash bail. He is due in Town of Wallkill Court March 12.
