NYPD: Brooklyn Teen Who Escaped Police Custody Turns Himself In
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Authorities in Brooklyn are investigating how a teenage suspect arrested for allegedly jumping a subway turnstile was able to escape police custody.
Rhamar Perkins, 16, faces the original charge of theft of service as well as an additional charge of escape, police said.
Perkins was initially arrested Monday night for turnstile jumping at the Rockaway Avenue subway station in Brownsville, skipping out on paying the $2.75 MTA fare, police said.
While going through the booking process at Transit District 32, police said Perkins was uncuffed and ran for a door in the back of the precinct, escaping.
A search for the teen lasted five hours before police said he turned himself in early Tuesday morning.
Now, the department is investigating the officers who let him slip away and if disciplinary action will be taken.
This is not the first time the NYPD has had a suspect slip away. In 2015, it happened six times in as many months.
In December, 20-year-old Barry Tune escaped from the back of a squad car in Tribeca. He was found within a few hours. The original charge of petty larceny was compounded with escape.
The arresting officers had their guns and badges removed and were taken off the streets for retraining.
Video from June of last year shows suspect Tareek Arnold, who was arrested on a warrant for alleged attempted murder, running away still handcuffed before ever making it into the back seat of the cop car.
Nearly a month later, Arnold was back in handcuffs with upgraded charges.
