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Man charged after allegedly fleeing isolation by making rope from bedsheets

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 30 Sep 2020, 1:54PM
A man has been charged after allegedly fleeing a fourth storey window of a managed isolation hotel by making rope from bedsheets. (Photo / Dean Purcell)
A man has been charged after allegedly fleeing a fourth storey window of a managed isolation hotel by making rope from bedsheets. (Photo / Dean Purcell)

Man charged after allegedly fleeing isolation by making rope from bedsheets

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 30 Sep 2020, 1:54PM

A man has been charged after allegedly fleeing a fourth storey window of a managed isolation hotel by making rope from bedsheets.

Police said they had charged a 36-year-old man for allegedly absconding from the facility, the Ramada on Federal Street in Auckland central, on Sunday evening.

They had been making a number of enquiries since the man left and subsequently returned to the facility on Monday.

The man has been charged with failing to remain in a managed isolation or quarantine facility for a required period under the Covid-19 Public Health Response Act and Order 2020.

He is due to appear in the Auckland District Court tomorrow.

As the matter was before the courts, police they could not comment further.

The man had been deported from Australia on September 16, and tested negative on day three and day 12 of his stay.

The bedsheet ladder was discovered at 8.20am on Monday by on-site security, said Air Commodore Darryn Webb, head of managed isolation and quarantine.

"At approximately 8.24am as the matter was being investigated, the occupant of the room presented himself at the front gate," Webb said on Monday.

The man was swiftly taken into custody by police.

The man allegedly spent eight hours on the loose visiting different parts of the city.

He was captured on CCTV in Aotea Square at 1am Monday, Webb said yesterday.

"The man has been viewed on CCTV walking in parts of Auckland, from the central city to Newmarket, Epsom, Onehunga and Mt Albert before returning to the facility on Federal St."

Early indications suggested the man broke the security latch on the window to force his way out.

"Security improvements at the facility will be made and include the installation of additional CCTV cameras as well as extra lighting at the likely point of the man's alleged exit," Webb said.

Police had reviewed a range of CCTV, interviewed the man, conducted a scene examination and spoken to staff.

Public Health deemed the Covid-19 risk to the public to be low.

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