A Thurston County police chief has been released from the hospital, days after he crashed his squad vehicle into a local restaurant while experiencing a still-mysterious medical emergency, authorities reported this week.
City of Tenino officials issued a press release this week confirming that Police Chief Bob Swain has been released and is at home recovering following the April 8 crash. Car accident reports state the incident, in which Swain suffered minor injuries, remains under investigation by the Washington State Patrol.
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Swain at about 4 p.m. Wednesday reportedly suffered a medical emergency that caused him to black out and crash his vehicle into Scotty B’s restaurant. Car accident reports do not list any additional injuries in connection to the incident.
“While his injuries due to the accident are relatively minor, the underlying condition that precipitated the loss of consciousness remains unexplained,” city leaders wrote in the press release.
Jon Stines, the retired police chief of Tumwater and a volunteer officer in Tenino, has been hired as the department’s interim chief.
“Bob is as well as expected,” said Tenino Clerk/Treasurer John Millard in the release. “He’s a realist. He’s been in his line of work for 40 years and is very clear-eyed about it. He understands the process has to play itself out and any talk about how soon he’s coming back and whether the return will be in a full or limited capacity is pure speculation at this point.”
Doctors still are running tests to determine what caused his medical episode, Swain. Car accident reports released thus far do not list whether other factors are through to have contributed to the crash.
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