NICEVILLE — A Baker Act patient who escaped from HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital Thursday afternoon was safely located after a large-scale search involving officers, deputies, K9 units, drones and marine patrols.
According to the Niceville Police Department, officers responded to the hospital around 4:15 p.m. on June 4 after receiving reports that a patient being held under Florida’s Baker Act had left the facility.
Niceville Police officers and deputies with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office immediately began searching the surrounding area. An OCSO deputy later spotted the individual near the north entrance of Turkey Creek, prompting authorities to launch a coordinated search effort.
Police said Sergeant Pond, K9 Kodi, Inspector Teets, and OCSO Corporal Biernacki began tracking the individual through wooded areas around Turkey Creek while additional officers and deputies established a perimeter.
K9 Kodi tracked the individual south through the woods toward Highway 20. During the search, the individual entered the water near the main Turkey Creek entrance and was later observed floating beneath the Highway 20 bridge by a witness.
Authorities expanded the search with assistance from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office’s Drone Unit, Marine Unit, and additional K9 resources.
The individual was ultimately located near the dock behind Dollar General in Bayou Plaza.
Police said the individual resisted being taken into custody but was safely detained. The patient was then transported to HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital for further care.
The Niceville Police Department thanked the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office for assisting in the search and helping bring the incident to a safe conclusion.
No injuries were reported during the incident.
