A prisoner escaped from a Newark NJ hospital when he walked out of the building without anyone noticing.
According to the Newark police director, the 46-year-old suspect still remains at large after fleeing a room at University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey. The suspect was at the hospital to receive medical treatment for chest pains.
The suspect was initially arrested after police ran a search on him and discovered that he had an outstanding warrant for several criminal charges, including robbery, burglary, and resisting arrest.
After being arrested, the suspect was being held at the Newark police holding facility located on Green Street. The suspect was at the holding facility when he complained of chest pains, prompting police to transport him to the nearby hospital.
The bold escape occurred despite the fact that two police officers had been assigned to guard the suspect at the hospital. The officers discovered the escape when they checked his room and found it empty.
Shortly after the escape was discovered, the hospital was placed on lockdown for roughly two hours. Police officers searched the facility, but they were unable to locate the suspect. Officials have not indicated if any hospital employees came into contact with the suspect during the escape.
Police are working “around the clock” to track down the suspect. At this time, however, Newark police have not yet located him. The police department has received a number of tips about where he might be.
Assuming that the suspect is eventually located and apprehended, he will face significant criminal penalties for the original criminal charges. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1, robbery is typically classified as a second degree felony. A conviction on second degree robbery charges could result in a sentence of 5-10 years in New Jersey State Prison.
Additionally, the suspect could face enhanced penalties because he reportedly has a prior criminal record. Judicial records indicate that the suspect was previously convicted of cocaine distribution in 1994.
The Newark Police Department is currently in the process of investigating how the mistake at the hospital occurred. While the investigation remains pending, the officers assigned to guard the suspect remain on active duty.
For further information about this case, view the NJ.com article entitled “Escaped Prisoner Ducked Newark Cops, Walked Out of Hospital Undetected, Director Says.”
