UPDATE: Dangerous Patient Back in Custody

The search for an escaped nursing home patient in Heath is over.

Police Chief Tony Shepherd said around 11 p.m. on Thursday dispatchers received a call of a possible prowler in the 100 block of Irvingwick Drive.  Officers found 53-year-old John Stroud, who had broken out of the Heath Nursing and Convalescent Home earlier in the day.  Shepherd said the patient only wandered about two miles from the nursing home.

"He had been hiding in the woods all day," said Shepherd.  "I’m sure he was hungry, thirsty, and maybe even suffering from extended exposure since it was pretty cold.  The officers felt that he might need some medical attention, so we called our squad and had him transferred to Licking Memorial Hospital."

Stroud was placed under arrest without incident.  Shepherd said the man was considered to be dangerous because of attempted murder charges stemming from a standoff with authorities in Scioto County in January of 2011.

"My worst nightmare was that, in an effort to return to Scioto County or to arm himself, he might commit a burglary, kidnapping or worse to provide himself with transportation, cash or weapons," said Shepherd.

Stroud is being held in Licking County Jail and will be extradited to Scioto County to face felony charges.