Inmate escapes from hospital in second security breach

Police in St. John's appealed for the public's help Tuesday in finding an inmate who escaped protective custody from a city hospital.

David Francis Vatcher, 27, was undergoing a psychiatric assessment at the Waterford Hospital in the west end of St. John's.

Waterford staff informed the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday that Vatcher had escaped the second time in as many months that an inmate was able to flee the secure unit.

Const. Shawn O'Reilly said residents should not be alarmed.

"Although this person is charged with robbery with violence, he's yet to go through the trial process on that charge," O'Reilly told CBC News.

"His history doesn't show any violence. So in that respect I don't think they should be concerned."

In January, inmate Devon Rowe, 21, jumped the unit's fence. RCMP officers apprehended him two days later in another community.

After that incident, hospital officials said they had hired a company to tighten security in the unit.

Police described Vatcher asfive feet seven inches tall and 170 pounds in weight. He has brown eyes and short, dark-brown hair that is thinning.

Vatcher has a tattoo behind his right ear.

Police described him as wearing a blue hoodie, sneakers and nylon pants that are brown or tan.