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Man who escaped custody from NYC hospital is back behind bars, officials say
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Sep 12, 2023
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By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Sep 12, 2023
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Yenchun Chen, the man who escaped from Department of Correction custody last month, is no longer on the lam.
The DOC said Chen, who evaded capture since early August and made headlines by rappelling down the side of a Manhattan hospital to escape his jailers, is back behind bars.
Officers from the Correction Intelligence Bureau and the U.S. marshals caught up with Chen, 44, in Long Island City at 6:15 a.m. Tuesday. A spokesperson for the DOC said Chen was taken to Bellevue Hospital for medical evaluation and treatment.
Chen initially escaped Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in Gramercy Park on Aug. 9, after police said he tied a string of towels or bedsheets together and squeezed his way out of a fifth-floor window.
Once Chen was on the ground, he hailed a yellow cab and disappeared into the city.
Chen was arrested on July 31 in Manhattan for criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to the NYPD. He was in the hospital in August for treatment related to a medical issue.
It’s unclear if Chen will face upgraded charges for his escape.
The officers responsible for Chen at the time of his getaway were suspended for 30 days without pay, according to the DOC.
Tagged
new york city
public safety
correction
Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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