The search for missing Eastern State Hospital patient Phillip Arnold Paul continues today with assets from the Washington State Department of Corrections, Washington State Patrol, Spokane Police Department and this sheriff’s office coordinated through a command post established in the Public Safety Building.
The sheriff’s helicopter, Air 1, has been called out and should be patrolling known hobo camps along the Spokane River and BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad right of ways by noon.
Capture of Paul remains the focus of current law enforcement efforts. Yakima County Friday morning issued a felony warrant for his arrest charging him with Failure to Comply with the Terms of Commitment. It carries with it Nationwide Extradition.
Spokane County investigators anticipated crafting an arrest warrant charging Paul with Escape, but learned Friday morning that they have no jurisdiction because the escapee’s commitment was from Yakima County Superior Court.
Still, the Failure to Comply warrant should ensure that any contact with law enforcement should result in Paul’s immediate arrest.
New information from Dept. of Social Health Services (DSHS) indicates that Paul’s medication should keep him stable for 14 days, not 48 hours as was reported to law enforcement yesterday. The medication is administered by injection, and he received his last dose within the past two or three days.
The spokesman also reported that Paul has previously been released back into the community, but that those releases have not worked out for one reason or another and he has been re-institutionalized.
Sheriff Knezovich reaffirmed with his investigative staff Friday morning that recovering the escapee remains his highest priority. Another search update is planned for about 4 p.m. today.
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