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The Great Falls Police Department is pursuing a registered violent offender who escaped mid-transport Wednesday from the custody of the Nexus Methamphetamine Treatment Center in Lewistown.

Havaii Kyana "Kai" Akane, 32, escaped from a Nexus transport bus in Great Falls while en route to the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge.

Akane escaped near the Great Falls Prerelease Center at 1019 15th St. N. at about 12:15 p.m. when he was left unattended and without restraints during an exchange of shackles, police said. According to representatives from Community, Counseling and Correctional Services, Inc. of Butte, which owns the Nexus facility, Akane was with a group of inmates who were supposed to be transferred to another bus owned by CCCS.

Akane was one of five inmates from Lewistown. Three were to be dropped off at the prerelease center and two others, including Akane, were to go to Deer Lodge.

Police confirmed that Akane's last known address was 622 27th St. N. as of July 15. On Wednesday, police found an idling car, which had been reported stolen after Akane's escape, near that residence, which he shared with his fiancee. K-9 units searched the apartment and a nearby storage unit, where the dogs seemed to pick up a scent but were unable to find Akane.

The fiancee, who did not want to be identified, said she did not see Akane on Wednesday nor did she know where he was. She said she had no idea that he would be passing through Great Falls on Wednesday, and was actually planning on visiting him soon in Lewistown. The woman also expressed frustration at a seemingly fearful community response.

"He isn't going to hurt anyone," she said. "He wouldn't hurt a fly."

She speculated that Akane may have escaped because he was fearful of being harmed if he went back to Deer Lodge.

Akane was sentenced to 12 years in prison for a 1997 truck-stop robbery in Missoula. Three years were added to his sentence after he tried to escape from prison in 1998 by running a vehicle into a fence, corrections officials said.

Akane was transferred from prison to the Great Falls Prerelease Center in 2005, but was returned to prison in 2006 for violating the center's rules.

He was released from prison later in 2006, but his probation was revoked in June for unauthorized travel and illegal drug use, according to Department of Corrections officials.

Akane arrived at the meth treatment center June 23, and was being transported to prison Wednesday for a disciplinary violation at the center, a corrections department spokesman said.

Great Falls Police Sgt. Jeff Newton said officers were actively searching for Akane Wednesday. He added that that neither the police department, Cascade County Sheriff's Office or Montana Highway Patrol were involved with Akane's transport at the time of his escape. The transport was under the direction of CCCS, with contracts with the Department of Corrections.

"This guy got away from them and now we're trying to find him," Newton said.

All schools on the east side of town, both private and public, were put into a "shelter in place" mode Wednesday afternoon.

Ruth Uecker, assistant elementary superintendent for Great Falls Public Schools, said that status means exterior doors are locked so no one can come in or go out, but students are allowed to move freely between classrooms inside the building.

"I just think we're taking extra precaution in this situation," Uecker said. "We practice these things."

The shelter in place started around 1 p.m. and students were allowed to leave school under supervised release, meaning all staff members were outside when students were leaving. Staff also helped students get to buses.

The shelter in place status was in effect at Loy, Lewis and Clark, Morningside, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Whittier, Longfellow, Chief Joseph and Sunnyside Elementary schools, along with East Middle School and Great Falls High School. Central Catholic High School and Holy Spirit School also were locked down.

Cory Reeves, the school resource officer at Great Falls High, said the school didn't encounter any problems with students moving between the south and north campuses. He added that, for the most part, students weren't required to move between the two campuses Wednesday.

Uecker said there was more intensive scrutiny at Roosevelt and Whittier Elementary schools, and students were dismissed with care, meaning they were only released if a parent or guardian came to pick them up and staff members could verify that person. Faculty members also walked home with students who live close to the school.

Akane was described as wearing a white T-shirt, orange pants, orange socks, and white, black and red Nike shoes. Police found an orange shirt on the train tracks near 10th Avenue North and 17th Street, which officers believe belonged to Akane. A Department of Corrections spokesman said Akane is believed to be dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone who sees Akane is encouraged to call 9-1-1.

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