Missing Rikers inmate found
(New York-AP, January 12, 2006) - The Rikers Island city jail was put in lockdown briefly this afternoon as officials scrambled to find a rape and kidnapping suspect who went missing. The anxiety lasted about two hours until the inmate, who was not named, was found.
A spokesman for the city jail system said the inmate never left Riker's Island. The 26-year-old prisoner also had convictions for felony criminal mischief and felony grand larceny.
Guards noticed the inmate was missing when he was due to appear today in a Queens courtroom.
Officials ordered a lockdown at Rikers, a recount of the entire island, and a recount of the prisoner population at the Queens courthouse.
The escape scare began around 2 this afternoon and ended shortly before 4 o'clock.