Derrick Sanders

Authorities Friday sought a high-risk sex offender with a history of violence who escaped a locked Redwood City mental facility where he was committed as incompetent to stand trial on a misdemeanor charge of annoying a child.

Derrick Sanders, 34, a resident of Cordilleras Mental Health Facility at 200 Edmonds Road in Redwood City, went missing Friday morning, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.

As of Friday afternoon, there was no word of his whereabouts and his destination remained unknown, said Sheriff’s Lt. Larry Schumaker. Sanders is considered high risk because he is a sex offender, not necessary because of the nature of the offense, Schumaker said.

Sanders was discovered missing by staff at Cordilleras Center during early-morning rounds Friday. He is believed to have possibly left the facility through an elevator shaft, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Sanders is a transient who frequents San Mateo and Alameda counties. He is described as 5 feet 11 inches and 165 pounds. He was last seen wearing a red polo shirt and blue jeans. He is also wanted on a parole violation warrant issued by the California Department of Corrections.

Sanders was prosecuted in 2009 for failing to register as a sex offender and he was arrested in May 2011 for allegedly annoying a child. In July, he was found mentally unfit to aid in his own defense and he was sent to Cordilleras because he faced a misdemeanor rather than a felony count.

Cordilleras is a privately owned locked facility but Schumaker said the Sheriff’s Office is "up there quite a bit” on security and walkaway issues.

Anyone with information about Sanders’ whereabouts is encouraged not to make contact with him, but to call 911. Non-emergency leads about his whereabouts should contact Detective Marcus Gathright at (650) 363-7823 or the Sheriff’s Office Anonymous Witness Line at (800) 547-2700.