Winneshiek Medical Center locked down Friday afternoon

(Photos by decorahnews.com's Paul Scott)

Winneshiek Medical Center was locked down at 3:40 Friday afternoon.

Around 3:00 p.m. the Decorah Police Department had received information about a man who had made threats against a physician at the hospital.  The threats were made to a third person, not at the hospital.  This information was shared with Winneshiek Medical Center and the physician.

At 3:38 p.m. Friday a car belonging to the subject was located unoccupied in the Winneshiek Medical Center parking lot.  The Winneshiek Medical Center chose to lock down the facility for the safety of its staff and patients.

Police officers from the Decorah Police Department, Calmar Police Department, Winneshiek County Sheriff's Department and Iowa State Patrol then began conducting a search of the interior of the hospital building, looking for the subject.  A short time into the search of the hospital telephone contact was made with the subject, who was not on site.  The subject's location was confirmed by law enforcement.

The lock down was lifted shortly before 5:00 p.m.  Law enforcement officers deemed the hospital was safe and the facility was re-opened for normal business and access.  People who were inside the building were allowed to leave and some police officers left the scene.

Decorah Police say they are continuing their investigation into the incident.

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