Police nab escaped inmate in St. John's

Police in St. John's have captured an inmate who escaped from protective custody on Tuesday morning from a city hospital.

David Francis Vatcher, 27, was under escort when he fled the Waterford Hospital.

Vatcher, who is awaiting trial on a charge of robbery with violence, had been sent to the Waterford for a psychiatric assessment.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said Vatcher was picked up Tuesday night at about 10:30 p.m., in the vicinity of St. Clare's Hospital in St. John's.

This was the second security breach at the Waterford Hospital, a psychiatric hospital that also holds a forensic unit, in as many months.

In January, another inmate was able to jump the fence at the hospital's security unit. He was apprehended two days later.

Hospital officials said they were hiring a company to tighten security at the forensic unit.