By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Hillsboro police spent a full week providing security at Hillsboro Community Hospital after they had to take a woman there Jan. 3 because of an apparent psychiatric breakdown.

“We were at the hospital for hospital staff security,” Hillsboro officer Randy Brazil said.

The woman allegedly threatened both an acquaintance and police Jan. 3. Brazil, police chief Jessey Hiebert, a Marion officer, and two deputies were involved in the incident during which she was, according to Brazil, “out of control.”

Prairie View had two conferences with the woman that day and recommended that she be admitted to a psychiatric facility for further evaluation. The next day, a judge ordered her committed to Larned State Hospital.

No beds were available at Larned, so police had to provide security until Monday night.

“The thing is, you can’t ignore these people because they need help,” Brazil said.

Brazil said a probable-cause affidavit seeking criminal charges is at the county attorney’s office for his review.

If the county attorney decides to charge her, and a warrant is issued for her arrest, police will pick her up after she returns to Hillsboro, Brazil said.