Standing at the northeast corner of Remsen and Clinton this morning, three NYPD vehicles, one of them a fire truck (with NYPD livery, not FDNY) roared up Clinton and turned left onto Remsen, causing no small amount of confusion and chaos at a busy time in the neighborhood.
A short time later, as I walked up Henry Street, approaching the intersection to cross Clark St., an NYPD van headed west on Clark did a U-turn and packed smack in the crosswalk in front of Penny Bridge. No lights, no sirens, and the two officers who descended the van were noticably unhurried.
I pointed out that the van was blocking the crosswalk; one of the officers offered a half-hearted smile and apology, saying, “We’re on a call.”
They strolled over to the 2/3 station, entering through the gate and waiting by the elevators. Whatever the call was, I decided, it couldn’t be that serious.
Turns out: well, yes, yes, it was, in fact, rather serious: an escaped prisoner.
From News 4 NY:
The prisoner, who had been arrested on an armed robbery charge, was being walked into Central Booking when he took off near Atlantic Avenue and Court Street around 11:30 a.m., law enforcement sources say. He was captured a few hours later.
No details are yet available on the prisoner’s identity or where he was found.
Photo: Teresa Genaro
