LAKEWOOD, Wash. (AP) - A man who started a fire at Washington state’s largest psychiatric hospital was found to be incompetent to stand trial.
The News Tribune reports (https://bit.ly/2iRrNEG ) that a Pierce County judge made that ruling after prosecutors charged Patrick Hayden with first-degree arson.
They say Hayden stated a fire at Western State Hospital on Nov. 30.
Three wards were evacuated for several hours after Hayden used a lighter to burn paper in a cabinet.
Superior Court Judge Michael Schwartz dismissed the case on Dec. 22 after receiving a mental health evaluation on Hayden.
Schwartz sent Hayden back to the hospital and ordered an evaluation for potential civil commitment there.
He has been accused of starting fires in the past. No one was hurt in any of the blazes.
___
Information from: The News Tribune, https://www.thenewstribune.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.