A detainee who managed to slip away from police custody while receiving medical care at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach was successfully recaptured Thursday afternoon, roughly an hour after his escape, according to the Miami Beach Police Department.
The individual had been taken into custody on Wednesday and was transported to the hospital located at 4300 Alton Road for medical attention. Once admitted, the police stated that the detainee "somehow managed to escape" from the officers who were guarding him.
This event triggered an extensive search operation involving ground units, Miami-Dade Sheriff's Department boats, and helicopters, as reported by Telemundo 51.
Authorities set up a perimeter around the hospital and advised the public to avoid the area during the operation, which saw a heavy police presence starting at 4 p.m.
By approximately 5:30 p.m., police confirmed that the individual had been found and returned to custody, noting that at no point did he pose a threat to the public.
The detainee was discovered within the hospital grounds and was unarmed at the time of recapture.
The authorities have not disclosed the identity of the detainee or provided specific details on how the escape occurred.
This incident occurs amidst increased public scrutiny regarding security during hospital transports and custodial situations in South Florida.
Meanwhile, the region continues its search for Sherman Kemp, a 47-year-old federal drug trafficker known as "Goose," who vanished on September 11 during a transfer from the FCI Miami federal prison to FCI Jesup in Georgia, where he was serving a 27-year sentence for cocaine trafficking.
Police have not confirmed whether the Mount Sinai escapee is the same person as Kemp, though it appears to be unrelated cases, as noted by the Miami Herald.
Escapes of this nature, where a detainee takes advantage of a medical visit to flee, have repeatedly occurred in South Florida, prompting criticism of custody protocols at hospital facilities.
The Miami Beach Police Department's Internal Affairs Division has launched an investigation to determine how the detainee was able to escape while under police watch inside the hospital.
Understanding Hospital Custody Escapes in South Florida
How did the escapee manage to flee from police custody?
The exact details of how the detainee managed to escape from police supervision at the hospital have not been disclosed by authorities.
Was the escapee armed during the recapture?
No, the detainee was unarmed at the time of his recapture on the hospital grounds.
Is there any connection between the Mount Sinai escapee and Sherman Kemp?
Authorities have not confirmed any connection between the Mount Sinai escapee and Sherman Kemp, suggesting they are separate cases.