‘Dangerous’ inmate escapes Western State Hospital in Lakewood, not detected for 12 hours
Apr 3, 2026, 7:10 AM | Updated: 1:35 pm
Photos of Joshua Dylan Rice, a missing inmate from Western State Hospital who is considered dangerous. (Photos courtesy of Clark County Sheriff's Office)
(Photos courtesy of Clark County Sheriff's Office)
Law enforcement is actively searching for a Western State Hospital inmate who has escaped.
The missing inmate, Joshua Dylan Rice, is considered dangerous, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. Rice broke out of the state-operated psychiatric hospital, located in Lakewood, at approximately 8 p.m. on March 31.
Rice is roughly 6 feet tall and weighs around 185 pounds. He has blue eyes and can be seen in the photos above. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office believes he may have associates in the Salmon Creek area within the county and perhaps as far as North Bend, Oregon.
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Rice’s escape from Western State Hospital
Police and hospital staff believe Rice climbed out of a window in his room, the Lakewood Police Department told KIRO 7. He was eventually spotted by a security camera climbing over a fence, but staff did not notice he was missing until 12 hours after the escape.
“Western State Hospital takes the safety and security of patients, staff, and the surrounding community very seriously,” DSHS spokesperson Cynthia Shiplet said in a statement. “Following this incident, we have conducted a thorough review and have implemented additional safety measures to strengthen our protocols and prevent future elopements.”
Rice’s arrest leading to his time at Western State Hospital
Rice had been at Western State Hospital since September 2025 after failing to appear in court, forcing the judge to declare a mistrial. Rice was arrested after attacking a victim and carjacking him in a Vancouver parking lot in 2024. According to KIRO 7, Rice pulled the victim out of the car and physically fought him. When the victim pulled out a knife, Rice grabbed it from him and cut both his hands.
The victim needed surgery on both of his hands after the incident.
“That’s probably what’s going to happen here,” the victim told KIRO 7. “They will catch him when he hurts someone else.”
Rice, who has a known criminal history in Multnomah County, is facing pending robbery, assault, and theft of a motor vehicle charges in Clark County Superior Court.
If anyone has information regarding his whereabouts, they are asked to contact 911.
This is a developing story, check back for updates
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