Missing Inmate Found After Hours-Long Search On Rikers Island
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- An escaped inmate is back in custody after being missing for more than seven hours on Rikers Island.
Officials say the inmate made his escape while outdoors for recreation time.
Naquan Hill, 24, was reportedly one of six inmates in a yard when around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday it's believed that he was able to make his way over a fence while guards were distracted, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported.
When the guards realized that the head count was off by one, they placed the island, located off of Queens, on lockdown.
Because of the search, the Q-100 bus service taking visitors to Rikers was suspended. Passengers, including Rojelia Carter, said they were sitting on buses for hours.
"We didn't have any information about what particularly happened. They just said they're on red alert and no one could come in and out," she said. "People passed out, we couldn't get water. We couldn't get off the bus."
One person was treated at Elmhurst Hospital, 1010 WINS' Samantha Liebman reported.
Meanwhile, a massive overnight search was conducted with the help of the NYPD, Port Authority police and correction officers.
Hill, who is in jail for burglary, was found on the island just before 3 a.m and taken back into custody. Officials say two Department of Correction staffers found him on the island. He was found in a trailer yards from the center where he was being held, WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported.
An investigation is now underway into how Hill was able to escape.
No word yet on whether the guards who were responsible for watching him will face disciplinary action.
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
