Police issue warning about men who escaped psychiatric hospital

Edmonton police are searching for two men who escaped from Alberta Hospital. Police say both men are dangerous and should not be approached.

Police are looking for two men who they say escaped from an Edmonton psychiatric hospital and are dangerous.

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Edmonton Police Service has obtained arrest warrants for both Justin Somers, 39, and Coletan Bearhead, 29, for being unlawfully at large.

In 2011, Somers was accused of murdering his roommate at the Edmonton Remand Centre but found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder.

Court records show Bearhead has an extensive legal history, including recent assault cases, one of which he was found not criminally responsible.

The pair were last seen around 7 p.m. Tuesday, running toward 18 Street near Alberta Hospital.

“Recovery Alberta cannot discuss details of the situation because of patient confidentiality and privacy. Recovery Alberta continues to work with EPS on this matter,” said a government spokesperson.

“Incidents like these are extremely rare. Recovery Alberta will conduct a full review and work to implement any identified recommendations.”

Releasing the pair’s photos Wednesday morning, EPS said they pose a risk to the public.

Mounties have also been alerted. Anyone with information about their location is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers.

Dan Jones, the chair of justice studies at NorQuest College, called the situation unfortunate but agreed it is rare.

“It’s not a prison; it’s a hospital. They have a little bit more free access to the yard or the grounds,” he commented.

“As you’re trying to help people reintegrate, there’s a give and take with that level of security versus managing risk.”

Pointing to a woman who was erroneously released from the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre recently, Jones added, “It’s not something we hear on a daily basis. It’s something you hear every once in a while.... The (Edmonton Remand Centre) is a hard place to get out (of) because everything’s locked down. The TikTok fugitive, someone faxed in a stay letter and they let her out on a technical error basically. So that’s not that easy.”

He believes Somers and Bearhead will be found quickly, but says it’s too late to prevent damage to the public’s perception of community safety.

“I think we have to be careful and conscious. First of all, when it comes to mental health, the vast majority of people that have any type of mental disorder or mental health diagnosis are not violent... And I think the problem when these things happen, it starts to put that unfortunate taint on everybody who has suffered from mental health disorders.”

Somers is 5′11″ and weighs about 250 pounds. He has brown hair, hazel eyes and a teardrop tattoo under his left eye.

Bearhead is 6′ and weighs about 220 pounds. He has black hair, brown eyes, and pierced ears.