A prisoner receiving medical treatment escaped from a New York City hospital by tying sheets together, rappelling from a fifth-floor window and hailing a taxi, police said.

The 44-year-old man escaped from Mount Sinai Beth Israel hospital in Manhattan shortly after 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and was still at large Thursday, a police spokesperson said.

The man had been in custody since a July 31 arrest for drug possession and was brought to the hospital Aug. 4 for treatment of a medical problem, a spokesperson for the city Department of Correction said.

He was taken to the bathroom for a shower and managed to escape out the window using bedsheets, police said. He rappelled to a rooftop below and from there made it to the street, where he got into a taxi.

The police and correction departments were looking for him Thursday.

Share:
More In Culture
Gene Simmons on End of the Road World Tour
After over 50 years of record-breaking global tours, it is the end of the road for one of rock and roll's most influential bands, Kiss. The legendary Gene Simmons spoke with Cheddar News to reflect on his career and how Kiss became a staple of American culture.
Gingerbread House Inspiration
Lenny Rosenberg and Adaeze Nwanonyiri, owners of Bea's Bakery, joined Cheddar News to show people how to take the creation of gingerbread houses to the next level.
Wendy's Frosty Key Tag Promotion
Wendy's announced it's bringing back its Frosty key tags for promotion, which gives customers a whole year's worth of Frosties for just $3, with proceeds going to children in foster care.
On The Scene: The Museum of Broadway
Julie Boardman, co-founder of The Museum of Broadway, joined Cheddar News to discuss the history of theater in New York City, showed some of the gallery exhibits and gave a behind-the-scenes tour of how some of the shows are produced.
Roc Nation and Social Justice Reform
Dania Diaz, managing director of Roc Nation and one of the founding members of its United Justice Coalition, joined Cheddar News to discuss how the organization helps to address violence in Black and Brown communities and what they expect to talk about at an upcoming summit.
Load More