Patient wanted in assault flees police

A UPMC Altoona patient who had been detained on a pending assault charge fled hospital police near the rear parking lot of the hospital campus late Wednesday morning, according to hospital spokesman Ed Dewitt.

Hospital police secured the campus and, along with officers of the Blair County Sheriff’s Department and the Altoona Police Department, searched the area, according to Dewitt.

The escapee was wearing blue jeans and black shoes, had gauges in his ears and was handcuffed, according to information heard on a scanner.

He may have gotten one handcuff off, and at some point, he acquired a blue jacket and yellow gloves, according to scanner reports.

Police were following footprints in the snow and were searching in Fairview Cemetery and at a nearby Sheetz, according to scanner information.

Authorities put out an alert after 12:30 p.m.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspect should call 911, according to Dewitt.

The Mirror was unable to obtain additional information about the case.

Fire damages mobile home

A Newry mobile home sustained extensive smoke damage in a Tuesday evening fire, according to a Facebook post by the Duncansville Fire Department.

No injuries were reported.

Duncansville firefighters responded about 8:28 p.m. Tuesday.

The fire, off Mill Road, was described as a working trailer fire. Units from Freedom and Allegheny townships, Friendship, Phoenix and Geeseytown fire companies responded.

Firefighters attacked the fire in the mobile home and under the skirting, containing the fire to the area of origin, according to the Facebook post.

The fire was quickly contained.

Firefighters cleared the scene in about two hours.