Riverbend Hospital Text Alert – All Clear

NARRATIVE OF INCIDENT:

At 8:21 pm on Sunday, October 30, 2022, the Springfield Police Department was notified of a series of ‘Text Alerts’ distributed to Riverbend Hospital employees via their internal emergency notification system. Several alerts had been sent in close proximity that initially notified staff of an ‘active shooter’ situation, followed by a series of decreased level alerts.

Upon arrival, Officers were able to make contact with hospital security staff and the alleged suspect. The suspect had been escorted out of the hospital prior to the distribution of the initial alert. The suspect was located at an establishment away from the hospital campus and complied with SPD Officers. The suspect was found to be unarmed, in addition to not having been armed during the initial interaction with hospital security. Officers remained at the hospital for several hours in order to determine the root of the alerts and any miscommunication during the incident.

It was deemed that the suspect was not a threat, however they were arrested on charges of Disorderly Conduct II due to interactions with hospital security staff prior to Officer arrival.