Bend, Ore. — Pilot Butte Middle School was placed on precautionary “secure” status Wednesday afternoon after local authorities conducted a search for a hospital patient who had walked away from nearby St. Charles Bend. The individual, later identified as a male wearing blue scrubs, was last seen near Neff Road and Cliff Drive before being located and arrested in Redmond.
Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller confirmed the search, urging anyone who spotted the man to call 911. The incident prompted Deschutes County dispatchers to issue an emergency alert to a 1.5-mile radius around the area, providing the description and urging the public to stay vigilant.
The “secure” status at Pilot Butte Middle School was a precautionary measure in response to the unfolding situation. In this status, all outside doors are locked, but normal activities within the school continued. The secure protocol is designed to safeguard students and staff in the event of a potential threat in the surrounding area.
Bend-La Pine Schools notified parents and the wider community through the BLConnect phone and text system, alerting them of the temporary status. The district also provided instructions for parents of students who walk home, assuring them that those students would be kept in the gym until they could be picked up. Staff remained on-site to ensure the safety of all students, with arrangements made to escort walking students out front to meet their guardians.
Once the situation was resolved and the individual was taken into custody, the school returned to normal operations. Despite the brief disruption, the coordinated response from local law enforcement and school officials helped ensure the safety of the students and community.
