Burglary Suspect Escapes From Harlem Police Station
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Cops continued searching through the night for a burglary suspect who escaped from an East Harlem police station.
Arthur Collins, 57, of the Bronx, was being booked at the 25th Precinct station house at 120 E. 119 St. when he escaped around 7:10 p.m. on Friday, police said.
Collins was wearing no shoes, a black shirt and black jeans. He stands 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighs about 140 pounds and has a shaved head.
A police helicopter and bloodhound were called in to help with the search. The dog appeared to pick up Collins' scent as it led cops to the subway station at East 116th Street and Lexington Avenue, just blocks from the station house, CBS2's Tracee Carrasco reported.
Police said they responded to a 911 burglary call around 1:45 p.m. Friday and found Collins inside an apartment at 1976 Madison Ave. He tried to flee but was apprehended before he could leave the building, cops said.
Collins had crack, cocaine, heroin, marijuana and a firearm silencer on him, police said.
He was placed in a holding cell without handcuffs, but when officers went to check on him during processing, they discovered he was gone, police said.
According to the state Corrections Department, Collins served prison time in the 1970s for attempted manslaughter and in the 1980s for attempted murder.
People in the neighborhood told CBS2 they have seen Collins around.
"When I see him, he talks to himself," one man said. "I don't engage in anything with him or nothing like that. When I see him, I just watch him act out."
Police are asking anyone with information about Collins' whereabouts to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-8477 or to submit a tip online at NYPDCrimeStoppers.com.
The incident marks the second time in a little more than a month that a suspect has escaped police custody in Harlem. On June 23, Tareek Arnold was being taken from the 32nd Precinct station house to Central Booking when he allegedly shoved a police officer to the pavement and took off while still in handcuffs. After nearly a month on the run, Arnold was tracked down by police Monday night in an apartment at 139th Street and Fifth Avenue, authorities said.
