Cops falsely claimed that an escaped robbery suspect had been re-apprehended after slipping police custody in handcuffs in Brooklyn Heights on Monday morning, and now say the fugitive remains on the lam.
Police were transporting the suspect the 60th Precinct in Coney Island to Central Booking on Schermerhorn Street between Smith Street and Boerum Place when he escaped police custody a little after 11 am, authorities confirmed.
The fugitive is still at large, despite claims from police yesterday that he had been captured.
“Yesterday there was a misunderstanding, but he has not been apprehended,” said Officer Arlene Muniz, a spokeswoman for the police department.
Cops originally claimed that they found and re-apprehended the suspect sometime before 3:15 pm, but have since reneged on that statement.
The wanted man — who was arrested in the near Coney Island on robbery charges — slipped police custody and fled southbound on Court Street near Atlantic Avenue while still handcuffed, according to social crime-reporting app Citizen.
Dozens of police cars and helicopters canvassed the area for hours, and local schools were put on lock-down during the hunt, according to Citizen.
The police vehicles have now subsided, and authorities have not commented on the ongoing search.
Cops described the man as five-foot-nine, with hair in cornrows, a light beard and mustache. He was last seen wearing sky blue t-shirt under a military green track suit with orange stripes.
Police did not release the suspect’s name.
Anyone who provides police with information leading to an arrest can expect up to a $2,500 reward through the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers program. The public can phone their tips to (800) 577-8477, log into the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdc
All calls are strictly confidential.
