HUNTINGTON, W.Va. –A man wanted after walking away from a Huntington psychiatric hospital was captured by Huntington police Tuesday morning.
James Yost was apprehended in 600 block of 4th Avenue in Huntington, a statement from the Huntington Police Department said.
Yost was in custody for multiple sex-related crimes in Morgan County. He left the River Park Hospital on 6th Avenue Monday afternoon.
According to state police, hospital staff provided troopers with a court order from the Morgan County Circuit Court indicating that Yost had been committed to the custody of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources by reason of insanity, with the commitment in effect until February 2098.
Yost is now housed in Western Regional Jail charged with felony escape from a mental health facility.
His escape prompted Cabell County Prosecuting Attorney Jason Spears to request for the West Virginia State Police conduct a thorough and comprehensive review of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“This includes how the individual was able to leave the facility, how he arrived in Cabell County, and a full examination of the nature of the underlying offenses and risk factors involved,” Spears said in a statement.
Spears also said that local law enforcement and his office, are normally not notified who is being held in these facilities or the reasons for placement unless and until an emergency situation arises.
“That lack of real-time information presents challenges when responding to incidents of this nature and raises additional public safety concerns that must be evaluated as part of this investigation,” Spears continued. “I look forward to working closely with the West Virginia State Police to find answers our community deserves and to ensure accountability moving forward.”
He said he is going to be monitoring the matter closely and will take appropriate actions as more information becomes available.