Rochester man jailed after attempted baby kidnapping at Woodlawn Hospital

A 25-year-old Rochester man suffering from intellectual disabilities was arrested earlier this month after he attempted to kidnap a baby from the OB ward of Woodlawn Hospital. 

According to court documents Dylan M. Lewis has been charged with kidnapping, a Level 5 Felony; and disorderly conduct and false informing, two class B misdemeanor charges. 

The probable cause affidavit stated nightshift security at Woodlawn Hospital notified the Rochester Police around 6 a.m. Feb. 12 about a man, identified by those at the hospital as Lewis, who had pulled the hospital's fire alarm three hours prior. After Lewis was interviewed by officers and staff from the 4C crisis team about what happened, Lewis admitted to wanting to take a baby and claimed he had gained access to the OB area the he pulled the fire alarm around 3 a.m. that morning. 

Officers called to the scene noted having prior experience with Lewis and reported he was known to have severe cognitive / behavioral problems due to autism and had the cognitive reasoning of a 6-10 year old.

Lewis had most recently been involved with law enforcement after he called Fulton County 911 Dispatch on Feb. 6, reporting his debit card to be stolen. When officers followed up with Lewis about the theft later that day, Lewis told them it was all a hoax and he was just pranking them. On Feb. 7, Rochester Police were contacted about Lewis again after he had been walking around the Peace Tree Village Shopping Plaza in Rochester and proclaiming to those in that area that he was a Nazi and had a gun. 

When apprehended at the shopping plaza Lewis told officers he had learned about Nazi's from the TV show "Family Guy." After providing Lewis transport back to his apartment across town, officers contacted 4C crisis team and also submitted an online report for adult protective services to inform them about the incident and request possible services to Lewis for the future. 

Officers held Lewis at the hospital while they attempted to contact 4C to aide with placement for Lewis but were told 4C was unable to assist with his situation. After 4C's denial for placement, the officers continued to contact numerous other facilities, but all local mental health centers contacted also refused to accept Lewis after the situation. In the probable cause affidavit it was noted that the officer had even tried contacting Indiana adult protective services, advising them that 4C had stayed with officers and Lewis at Woodlawn while they attempted to find a placement for Lewis, but did not receive a response from the agency. 

After consulting with the prosecutors office, officers eventually transported Lewis to the Fulton County Jail later that day. Court documents read officers stated Lewis would also receive charges of misuse of 911 from the Feb. 6 incident. Lewis was booked at the Fulton County Jail on Feb. 12.