Police: Suspect Escaped Custody In Handcuffs In East Harlem
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police in East Harlem were on the hunt Sunday morning for a man who escaped custody for still in handcuffs.
As CBS2's Ilana Gold reported, Austin Stephenson, 25, had been arrested at 2:43 a.m. on suspicion of criminal trespass at 160 E. 103rd St., police said.
Police took Stephenson to the 23rd Precinct station on 102nd Street, but as he was being led toward the stationhouse, he shoved his escorting officer and bolted. The officer lost his balance, police said.
Police: Suspect Escaped Custody In Handcuffs In East Harlem
Police told CBS2 Stephenson was last seen on Park Avenue.
Stephenson is not considered dangerous, but neighbors still had a lot of concerns.
Chauncey Allen of East Harlem said he wants to know "why, how, you know – what procedures weren't followed, things of that nature."
Allen said he lives a block away from the precinct station.
"I do worry about my safety," he said. "It could have been somebody a lot more dangerous, and he could still be dangerous."
"I wish they would be careful," added another man. "I mean, I saw something a while back of some guy, like, running down the street with handcuffs on and I'm always surprised when it happens. I don't know what to expect; it's weird."
People are especially concerned because this is the third escape this summer in July. Arthur Collins escaped from the 25th Precinct, also in East Harlem, in July – getting gout of his holding cell when he was being booked on a burglary charge.
A month earlier, Tareek Arnold escaped from detectives in the 32nd Precinct in Harlem. Surveillance video showed him running down the street in handcuffs while detectives chased after him.
Both suspects were eventually captured.
The latest suspect, Stephenson, is described as being 5 feet 10 inches tall and about 160 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.
Stephenson was also arrested last year on a burglary charge, police said.
Anyone with information was asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, log onto the Crime Stoppers website, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.
