An inmate with a long-running criminal record escaped from a hospital Thursday morning, just minutes after appearing virtually before a Bronx judge, according to police and court records.
Police said Jose Lopez, a 37-year-old career criminal, escaped from police custody about 11:52 a.m. while being treated at NYC Health & Hospitals/Lincoln in Mott Haven.
About 20 minutes earlier, he was brought from a hospital bed facing multiple charges for allegedly driving at high speed and crashing his motorcycle while fleeing police in the Bronx on Aug. 29, according to police and records.
The police tried to stop him at that time, but he ran away, forcing the police to chase him.
When officers finally caught up with him at Gerard Avenue and East 150th Street, he was found in possession of drugs, the NYPD said.
He was charged with possession of a controlled substance, reckless endangerment, obstructing governmental administration, careless driving, failure to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian, driver leaving the scene causing property damage, and driving on or across a sidewalk.
Lopez pleaded not guilty to the charges Thursday morning, while Bronx Judge Daniel Lewis set cash bail at $1, according to records.
Lopez has 16 arrests since 2008 related to robbery, theft and drug charges, police said.
After his daring escape Thursday morning, police and K-9 units cordoned off the area around the hospital to search for him.
Police said it was not clear how he managed to escape.
A photo released by New York police showed Lopez, a University Heights resident, wearing a blue hospital uniform as he fled on foot.
He is described as being 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 170 pounds.
If anyone has information on his whereabouts, they are asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.
