Rufus Meyers, the Mendota Mental Health Institute patient who escaped from state custody during a dinner out in Madison on July 7, is still at large, police and state officials said.

"We 've shared everything we know with the police, but we haven 't been told by them that they 've found him yet, " said Stephanie Marquis, spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Family Services, which runs Mendota at 301 Troy Drive on Madison 's North Side.

Madison Police Detective Jamie Grann said Meyers is believed to be out of state. Officers contacted several of Meyers ' family members and friends, "few of whom were cooperative, " Grann said.

An escape charge on Meyers is being referred to the Dane County district attorney 's office, Grann added, and he is listed as wanted through the state 's probation and parole system.

Meyers, 27, was committed to Mendota in 2004 after criminal convictions for first-degree recklessly endangering safety, battery and resisting or obstructing an officer. He was described as "dangerous " by police, although by the time of his escape he was considered a minimum-security patient by Mendota.

Meyers got away from a Mendota staff member during a community outing with two other patients to Old Country Buffet at 1745 Parkside Drive on the Far East Side. The group was heading into the restaurant from the parking lot when Meyers lagged behind and then ran, institute officials said.

Community outings as rewards for select patients have been part of Mendota 's programming since the 1970s. Only minimum-security patients qualify, and they must meet further requirements including following the rules, completing treatment and staying on their medications, Marquis said.

"This is the first time in 26 years that someone has absconded during an escorted community outing, " he said.

Marquis said Meyers was close to petitioning for community release when he ran away.

"He didn 't break any rules at Mendota and was never considered a flight risk, " Marquis said. "Patients are not allowed off the grounds if there 's any concern they might attempt to abscond. "

-- Karen Rivedal

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