Bill to Help Police and Hospitals Hold People Accused of Crimes Moves Forward

By Justin Foss, Reporter

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By KCRG Intern

Story Created: Mar 18, 2010 at 8:31 PM CST

Story Updated: Mar 18, 2010 at 9:17 PM CST

Waterloo police are looking for a man who escaped from hospital.

Timothy McClain was involved in a high speed chase with police Tuesday night. It ended when he crashed. He needed medical treatment in Covenant Medical Center. But before officers could arrest him on several warrants, he walked away.

This comes just as the state is moving forward on a bill to help police and hospitals hold people accused of crimes.

This week the Senate passed the Ed Thomas Bill, it's designed to avoid another tragedy like what happened in Parkersburg.

If you remember, police took Mark Becker to a psychiatric unit at Covenant Medical Center and expected to charge him with a crime when he was released. But, the hospital released him without telling authorities...he later shot and killed Coach Ed Thomas.

Covenant Medical Center told us in a statement, "If law enforcement believes someone needs to be watched, held or detained, that is determined by their personnel who have the expertise to make such a decision. Authority to restrict patient movement comes from law enforcement."

With another patient slipping past authorities, it's faint reminder of the Mark Becker case.

"I know a lot of people are going to draw a parallel to that, but it's completely different," said Lt. Michael McMamee, Waterloo Police Department.

In that case, Mark Becker was sent to the psychiatric unit, and the hospital released him without telling authorities.

He shot and killed coach Ed Thomas the next day. Now, the Ed Thomas Bill makes it legal for hospitals to detain patients who have committed crimes.

But, you see, the Ed Thomas Bill wouldn't have stopped this escape because it's designed only to apply to patients with mental, or psychiatric issues.

Police say McClain didn't have any mental issues. And they insist, they would have posted a guard if they thought he was a threat.

Governor Culver is expected to sign the Ed Thomas Bill next week.

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