Arrest warrant issued for missing Arizona State Hospital treatment center patient
May 3, 2017, 7:32 PM | Updated: 7:32 pm
(Photo of Randy Layton, courtesy Arizona Department of Health Services)
PHOENIX — An arrest warrant was issued on Wednesday for a man who escaped from a treatment center after serving a prison sentence for being sexually violent, Phoenix police said.
Sgt. Vince Lewis, a spokesman for the Phoenix Police Department, said a warrant has been issued for Randy Layton, who escaped from Arizona State Hospital’s Arizona Community Protection and Treatment Center on Saturday night.
Officials with the Arizona Department of Health Services said Layton, 37, escaped during a scheduled outing away from the hospital and removed his GPS tracking device.
The arrest warrant was issued for the escape, as well as tampering with the monitoring device, Lewis said. There is no bond, Lewis said, and police have authorized a full nationwide extradition.
Phoenix police said Layton’s ankle monitor was located near the cross-section of Central and Dunlap avenues.
The facility that Layton was being treated at is described as a “civil commitment program” for men who were “adjudicated as sexually violent persons who have already completed their prison sentence.”
Layton is classified as a moderate-risk patient and officials believe he poses a risk to others.
Layton is described as a 5-foot 8-inch, 211-pound white male with brown hair and brown eyes. He has multiple tattoos, including one of a cross on his left hand.
He could be wearing black shorts and a black long-sleeved shirt.
Anyone with information about this case is encouraged not to approach Layton and is urged to call Phoenix Police or CrimeStop at 602-262-6151.