Man arrested for allegedly causing property damage at behavioral facility in Lacey

A patient at South Sound Behavioral Hospital was taken into custody after allegedly causing property damage at the facility. 

Around midday on May 18, Lacey Police Department personnel responded to reports of a disturbance involving a patient at the behavioural hospital on Woodland Square Loop SE.  

Hospital staff reported the individual, identified as Darnell Griffin, had become agitated and damaged property inside the facility. 

Responding officers arrived and observed “a shattered glass window on the door, and a metal hand sanitizer dispenser on the floor with 3 sharp nails sticking out of it," a police report stated.

The officers got the patient’s attention, who complied with police commands. No injuries were reported. 

Staff told officers the patient had picked up hospital equipment and made threatening gestures toward them. 

 According to hospital personnel, the 38-year-old patient had voluntarily admitted himself two days prior for substance use treatment. On the day of the incident, he expressed a desire to leave but became upset when informed that formal discharge paperwork was required before release. 

This allegedly angered the patient, resulting in damage to a window and other hospital property, estimated at approximately $2,000. 

When asked why he got upset and damaged facility property, the patient said he was hearing voices while inside the facility.  

“My clothes started feeling itchy, my hands, my throat, I`m still coughing stuff up,” the patient told the responding officers. 

Following his arrest, the patient was transported to Capital Medical Center for medical clearance. While at the hospital, he briefly fled on foot, prompting a search by law enforcement. He was located a short time later near Yauger Way NW. 

Griffin was booked into Thurston County Jail on charges, including second-degree escape, second-degree malicious mischief, and for an outstanding Department of Corrections (DOC) warrant. 

The behavioral facility has confirmed its intent to press charges related to the property damage, while the staff members will not be pressing charges for harassment.