Patient recaptured after short escape

SEATTLE — A patient who was with a group being escorted by staff at Washington’s largest psychiatric hospital briefly escaped on Monday.

Lakewood Police Lt. Chris Lawlor said the patient went missing from Western State Hospital about 1:45 p.m. The 31-yearold man was with a group of about eight patients.

Hospital staff discovered that the patient was missing when they reached their destination.

Hospital security began a search and he was taken into custody at about 3:05 p.m. and returned to the hospital.

Monday’s escape follows the April 6 escape of two dangerous patients. One was caught the next morning. The other made it to Spokane and was on the run for two days before being caught.