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Prisoner taken to hospital escapes custody

Healthcare Security Weekly, January 19, 2004

A violent offender who was shackled at the waist, wearing a handcuff, and walking with a cast on one leg escaped police custody January 8 at an Oakland hospital, the Daily Review of Hayward, CA, reports.

He was caught about 12 hours later in San Leandro.

Alameda County Sheriff's Office deputies transported Dion Terrell, 32, from Santa Rita jail in Pleasanton to Highland Hospital to have a broken arm recast. Terrell rode the elevator with deputies and was in a third-floor clinic when he took off down a nearby staircase, authorities said.

Deputies gave chase but could not catch Terrell, who authorities believe had a phony cast on his leg. Terrell escaped custody at 10:30 a.m. and his red jail jumpsuit was found a few blocks from the hospital at noon.

Terrell had been in jail since June 2003, facing charges of kidnapping, making terrorist threats, and false imprisonment. Police said they will file additional charges stemming from the escape.

A Highland Hospital spokesman said the two full-time deputies on duty at the hospital as well as a private security guard were not involved in the escape, and no one was injured in the incident.

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