Police Shoot Man Trying To Escape Van At Central Booking
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A man escaped Central Booking and was shot during a foot chase with a corrections officer Monday.
Monique Griego has more on the man's attempt to outrun officers.
This man went to some extremes to get away from police. First, he was shot. Then, he scaled a 14-foot fence. He made his way to a two-to-three story drop off a bridge and somehow got away, but it wasn't enough to get away from police.
WJZ cameras captured the end of an escape attempt at Central Booking. Police arrested the man for loitering but say he bolted from the facility before being booked.
"During the process of him being removed from the police van, he escaped. He jumped the fence...and fled on foot," said Anthony Guglielmi, Baltimore City Police.
Investigators say the 14-foot fence was either closed or closing when the suspect somehow climbed over it and the barbed wire, but not before being shot by a corrections officer guarding the gate.
"We're working on the roof across the road here. We heard a loud shot and saw a bunch of cops running and stuff," said witness Raymond Mahalik.
After scaling the fence and despite being shot, the suspect kept going and ran across the street. He then worked his way down a huge dropoff, was able to jump a fence, ran through a parking lot and was caught at the other end by an officer.
"He basically prevented an escape by his actions," said Mark Vernarelli, Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
The man--who has not been identified--was taken to a hospital for treatment. Police say there he'll be re-arrested and booked.
"It's not very smart to escape from police in jail. I mean, this is an individual who was brought into custody and, for whatever reason, decided to make an escape," Guglielmi said.
The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, who is handling the case, says the officer acted swiftly and appropriately when pursuing and shooting the suspect.
"If there is an escape attempt underway, that officer has the right to fire his or her weapon," Vernarelli said.
The suspect involved has yet to be identified and the investigation into how exactly he got away from law enforcement is still ongoing.
The corrections officer who shot the suspect is a 12-year veteran of the division.
