Any person committed under the provisions of sections 199.170 to 199.350 who leaves the facility designated by the department of health and senior services without having been discharged by the director of the facility or other officer in charge or by order of court shall be taken into custody and returned thereto by the sheriff of any county where such person may be found, upon an affidavit being filed with the sheriff by the director of the facility, or duly authorized officer in charge thereof, to which the person had been committed. The action may be prosecuted under section 199.275, if appropriate.
§ 199.260, RSMo