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Police catch convict who escaped AZ hospital

Healthcare Security Weekly, August 22, 2005

Police captured murder suspect James Edward Bates 24 hours after he escaped from his high-security "restoration to competency ward" at Arizona State Hospital in Tucson in his underwear,reports the Arizona Republic.

Bates, who was awaiting trial for a Las Vegas murder and aggravated assault on a police officer, escaped by breaking a plexiglass window in a restroom in between half-hour bed checks. He then squeezed through steel bars that left an opening of 6 in. x 15 in. and hopped a series of fences lined with razor wire.

Police say he then ran across several rooftops and into a surrounding neighborhood. Bates left his jumpsuit in his room and his flip-flops on the roof, making his escape wearing only boxer shorts.

Officers finally caught up with Bates the next day walking around after local residents identified him from images on the news.

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