RCMP prisoner escapes custody in Lethbridge
Posted Nov 16, 2018 8:01 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
LETHBRIDGE (660 NEWS) – The RCMP have launched an internal review after a prisoner managed to escape their custody in southern Alberta Friday.
It happened at the Coaldale detachment, which is located in Lethbridge, the 46-year-old was being escorted in through the north door for a bail hearing.
According to Mounties, the man was handcuffed from the rear and was able to free one of his wrists from the cuffs. He then bolted from the officer.
He crossed a very busy Stafford Drive with a number of police officers giving chase on foot.
The prisoner then reportedly gained access to a housing complex that was a few blocks away and entered the apartment of a relative who was living inside.
RCMP notified Lethbridge police who surrounded the area to help.
Officers immediately began to search the complex. They found him inside one of the units.
Staff Sergeant Glenn Henry says he grabbed a weapon and began to threaten police officers. No one was injured during his arrest.
“There are two issues here, this person who was in custody, if he escapes lawful custody will be charged with that offence and there’s also a bit of an incident with the Lethbridge Police Service members who encountered him so there will be some additional charges on top of the charges that he has,” he said.
Henry couldn’t elaborate on the man’s name or his initial charges because they had not formally been sworn in front of a Justice of the Peace.
“It’s an unfortunate incident but we’ll try to make some positive out of this by making sure this doesn’t happen again,” said Henry.
He says during that internal review they will take the scene apart and look at the risk assessments and see what needs to be improved.
The prisoner was taken to Chinook Regional Hospital for an assessment, released and then transferred over to the Lethbridge Correctional Centre for a new bail hearing.
