Prisoner Escapes NYPD, Found In CT

The man who managed to escape from NYC's Finest yesterday has now been captured. PHEW. The NY Post reports that José Rodriguez stole an NYPD cruiser and drove it five miles only using his knees, as he was in handcuffs and leg irons. Throughout yesterday afternoon word was coming in that the escaped prisoner had been spotted on the George Washington Bridge, then in New Jersey, then on a bus to New York City... but he was finally found (around 3 a.m.) in Uncasville, Connecticut, where he was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshal's Service... again.

So how did he get away the first time? According to the paper, when cops pulled him over and cuffed him, they left him in the back seat of their car and searched his SUV (which contained a loaded gun). During that time he managed to slip into the driver's seat and make his getaway; a police source said, "It's like this guy is Houdini. He just disappeared."

Rodriguez was in custody regarding a non-fatal shooting that occurred in the Bronx on November 1st; he also has an outstanding DWI warrant, and is on parole for dealing drugs. He now faces a court hearing on fugitive from justice charges.

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By Jen Carlson in News on November 18, 2010 11:11 AM

Comments [rss]

Hischick08

Is no one amazed by this guys driving skills?:

"stole an NYPD cruiser and drove it five miles ONLY USING HIS KNEES, as he was in handcuffs and leg irons"

Thats some good driving.

jaycjay

It is, but it's worth noting that he didn't do much driving -- he went about a half mile in the car. The article Boogie Down linked to above says: "Rodriguez asked to borrow a cell phone from a passerby around 1 kilometer from where he escaped."

So it's possible, probably likely, that he didn't do any steering but just kept the car in a straight line until he was out of sight of the cops who had stopped him.

virgilstarkwell

uncasville? he went to the casino? where there are cameras covering every square inch of property?

no great thinker, this guy.

Boogie Down

The comments on this take of the situation are amusing:

http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2010/11/18/37672/Dominican-felon-caught-in-Connecticut-after-massive-manhunt-Update

Guest

First he escapes the US Marshals Custody. Then this article's headline declares he escapes the NYPD. But in the article it states he escaped from NYC's Bravest, which is the FDNY. Was this guy on fire or something? I don't get it?

jaycjay

He was recaptured by the USMS, after his escape from NYPD custody.

Other than the now-corrected "Finest" vs. "Bravest" error, though, there's another small error in the above:

"Rodriguez stole an NYPD cruiser"

It wasn't a "cruiser", but an unmarked unit assigned to the NY/NJ HIDTA Task Force. It's a significant difference; that's why there was no rear-seat cage, so he was able to climb into the driver's seat.