MADISON, Wis. -- A carjacker crashed a vehicle into Brittingham Bay Thursday morning, Madison police said. Officers were still searching for a suspect as of 8 a.m.
Police identified the suspect as 55-year-old Derrick Newton. He is believed to armed with a knife and gun and is considered armed and dangerous. If you see him, do not approach and contact 911 immediately.
The armed carjacking was reported at around 6:10 a.m. Thursday near UnityPoint Health-Meriter Hospital. After crashing into the water, the suspect was able to escape from the vehicle.
A Madison Fire Department spokesperson said crews found the submerged vehicle, an SUV, roughly 125 yards offshore. A diver was able to confirm that nobody was in the vehicle.
Meriter was temporarily put on lockdown following the incident. A hospital spokesperson said that, as of 9 a.m., the hospital had transitioned to a 'Heightened Awareness' status.
The hospital is back open, with normal movement throughout the facility, but law enforcement will remain on site. No patient care was impacted by the lockdown.
Nearby SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital was also briefly put under lockdown. A hospital spokesperson confirmed that the lockdown has since been lifted.
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