By: Richard L. Smith
An investigation is underway following an incident at University Hospital in Newark, where an inmate managed to escape custody, resulting in a hospital-wide lockdown on Wednesday night.
The escape occurred just before 6:40 p.m., according to Essex County Corrections Department officials.
OCounty officials said the prisoner, arrested earlier for an unspecified incident, was brought to University Hospital for treatment of a medical issue he experienced prior to apprehension and before being processed into the Essex County Correctional Facility.
However, during the medical treatment, County officials say the suspect managed to disappear from the facility, prompting immediate action from hospital officials.
The lockdown was initiated as Rutgers Police and Essex County Corrections officials conducted an extensive search for the suspect within the hospital.
Fortunately, just before 7:15 p.m., the lockdown was lifted after authorities learned that the prisoner had left the hospital grounds.
The escaped inmate was found and apprehended several miles away, near the intersection of McCarter Highway and 3rd Avenue, effectively ending the search.
The circumstances of how the prisoner evaded police remain unclear, and the investigation into this serious security breach is active and ongoing.