RCMP say they have recaptured a 29-year-old inmate who escaped from Dorchester Penitentiary on Friday.
The Mounties say they arrested Jeffrey MacLean in Fredericton with the help of city police in the New Brunswick capital, less than five hours after corrections officials say he escaped from Dorchester.
Fredericton police say at 6:50 p.m., they spotted the vehicle MacLean allegedly stole near Montgomery Street. After refusing to stop for police, a pursuit was initiated, covering a large portion of southside. Police say during the incident, he committed a theft from a local business, and attempted to steal another vehicle, while committing a robbery.
About 40 minutes later in the city's downtown, MacLean drove his vehicle into two police cruisers, then fled on foot. He was quickly arrested and taken into custody.
Neighbours watched the whole incident unfold. Tyrone Lewis' two-month-old son started crying as the sound of sirens filled the street, so he stepped outside to see what was going on.
“That's when I noticed him jump out of the vehicle and start running,” said Lewis. “Saw between four and five police officers chasing after him. Three had their weapons pulled and they chased him straight down to Northumberland Street."
MacLean, from Dalhousie, N.B., was serving a sentence of more than nine years for a number of offences including armed robbery. Two Fredericton police officers received minor injuries.
Police say MacLean will appear in court at a later date to face charges in connection with the escape.
A spokesperson for the Correctional Service of Canada tells CTV News the escape remains under investigation.
With files from CTV Atlantic and The Canadian Press
