Man escapes custody on ferry, caught an hour later

A 28-year-old Orcas man escaped medical transport custody at the Anacortes ferry terminal around 6:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 3, and was caught soon after.

After being arrested on minor warrants, the man was turned over to the custody of Compass Health staff, who was sending him to Skagit County for further treatment.

Compass Health serves behavioral health patients in San Juan, Snohomish, Skagit, Island and Whatcom counties.

“They must not have done a very good job of restraining him,” said San Juan County Sheriff Ron Krebs.

After leaving the ambulance, the man reportedly hopped onto the back of a semitruck and returned to Orcas Island. He was taken into police custody once again approximately an hour later on Orcas.

Krebs said the man was headed to the mainland to be involuntarily institutionalized. Reasons for institutionalization include the patient being a danger to himself, others or property.