Man Who Prompted Hospital Lockdown In Geneva Arrested In Hammond
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The man who threatened a relative with a knife, prompting a west suburban hospital to go on lockdown, was arrested late Tuesday in northwest Indiana.
Justin Patzer, 31, was arrested just before 9 p.m. in Hammond, charged with felony domestic battery and aggravated assault, among other charges. Patzer declined extradition at a hearing on Wednesday and Geneva police say they will need to obtain governor's warrant from Indiana.
Police said Patzer was visiting his dying father at the hospital Tuesday morning, when he got into an argument with his brother-in-law, and pulled out a knife, threatening to stab him. He was seen running through the hospital with a knife around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, prompting a lockdown.
Patzer had taken off in his Dodge Caravan before police arrived, and allegedly struck another vehicle as he fled. No one was injured, and the lockdown was lifted around 11 a.m., after police were certain Patzer had left the hospital.
Two nearby elementary schools also were placed on a "soft lockdown" until about 11:30 a.m.
Geneva police learned Patzer might be headed to Hammond, Indiana, and informed police there to be on the lookout.
Hammond police located him around 8:45 p.m., and took him into custody. He was scheduled for an extradition hearing before he could be taken back to Kane County.