Head of Wash. mental hospital resigns in wake of escape of criminally insane man

Wash. hospital chief resigns after man’s escape

SPOKANE, Wash. — The head of a Washington state hospital has resigned in the wake of the escape last week of a criminally insane man who stayed on the run for three days.

Eastern State Hospital CEO Hal Wilson announced his resignation on Wednesday. He has contended the mental hospital did everything according to policies and procedures, despite widespread criticism from some hospital staffers and local law enforcement.

Patient Phillip Paul escaped from hospital custody during a trip to the Spokane County Interstate Fair with 30 other patients last week.

He was committed to the hospital in 1987 for the slaying of a Sunnyside woman.