WILLMAR -- The search for an escaped mental patient ended Thursday when the escapee wandered into Rice Memorial Hospital allegedly seeking mental help.
Armando Gonzalez, 34, escaped from an Alexandria behavior health hospital Wed-nesday.
Willmar Po-lice officers app-rehended Gonzalez at Rice Hospital Thursday afternoon.
Ironically, po-lice officers were already at the hospital on another call when they were notified that Gonzalez was in the building.
"One of the nurses came over and said 'the guy you're looking for just came in,'" said Willmar Police Capt. David Wyffels. "He fell in our lap."
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Interviews with Gonzalez by Willmar Police officers re-vealed that Gonzalez was allegedly told by someone to turn himself in to authorities or a mental care hospital. Wyffels said they were unable to determine who may have told Gonzalez to turn himself in.
"He must have chose the hospital," Wyffels said.
Wyffels was pleased that Gonzalez was apprehended and under protective supervision.
Gonzalez's Wednesday escape appeared to have been pre-planned, authorities said. Gonzalez jumped a facility fence and hid in the brush. He was later seen getting into a dark green car driven by a woman.
Authorities believed Gonzalez was headed to Willmar or the Sacred Heart area before possibly moving on to Texas. But as of early Thursday afternoon authorities from the area still had no sign of Gonzalez.
"And he showed up where we never expected him to show up," Wyffels said about Gonzalez's impromptu arrival at Rice Hospital. "I have no clue how he even got to Willmar."
Wyffels said Alexandria authorities were notified of Gonzalez's arrest this evening. Gonzalez will be held at the Kandiyohi County Jail until arrangements can be made with Alexandria.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
