An Escape from Police Custody: Inmate Jose Lopez
An inmate with a significant criminal history managed to escape from police custody at NYC Health and Hospitals/Lincoln shortly after appearing in front of a Bronx judge via virtual court, as reported by police and court records.
Jose Lopez, a 37-year-old career criminal, slipped away from police custody during his hospital stay at NYC Health and Hospitals/Lincoln in Mott Haven around 11:52 a.m., according to the authorities.
Just minutes before his escape, Lopez had been arraigned from his hospital bed on various charges related to a motorcycle incident in the Bronx on August 29, where he allegedly sped and crashed while evading the police, as per police reports and records.
Police attempted to stop him during the incident, but he managed to flee, initiating a pursuit that led to his eventual arrest on Gerard Avenue and East 150 Street, where he was found in possession of drugs, according to the NYPD.
Upon apprehension, Lopez was charged with several offenses including criminal possession of a controlled substance, reckless endangerment, obstruction of governmental administration, reckless driving, failure to yield to a pedestrian, operator leaving the scene causing property damage, and driving a vehicle on or across a sidewalk.
At his court appearance on Thursday, Lopez pleaded not guilty to the charges while Bronx judge Daniel Lewis set a $1 cash bail, according to records.
With a criminal record dating back to 2008, Lopez has accumulated 16 arrests for offenses such as robbery, burglary, and drug-related charges, as stated by the police.
Following his escape, law enforcement personnel and K-9 units conducted a search in the vicinity of the hospital in an attempt to locate him.
Authorities expressed uncertainty regarding how Lopez managed to flee, as a photo released by the NYPD depicted him in hospital attire before his escape on foot.
Described as 5-foot-11 and weighing 170 pounds, Lopez is currently at large. Individuals with information on his whereabouts are urged to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.
