23-year-old Christopher Miller was wanted by the New York Police Department after making a bold escape from Manhattan’s Bellevue Hospital last week. According to police, Miller was originally arrested on February 2nd after getting into a violent altercation at a McDonald’s restaurant in Manhattan. During the ordeal, Miller was stabbed in his thigh. Police transported the suspect to the hospital for treatment, but he was still considered to be under arrest.
While getting treatment for the stab wounds, the shackles were removed from the suspect. Unfortunately, a rookie police officer made a mistake and left the room. The suspect was unattended for a brief period of time.
At around 3:50 A.M. on February 3rd, Miller simply walked out of the hospital. He used a back door of the ICU unit and then used the front lobby entrance to fully escape. It remains unclear where the suspect went after, but police were not able to locate him all weekend. An open warrant for his arrest was made public.
Christopher Miller, who is currently a Harlem resident, is around 5 feet 6 inches tall. He’s around 160 pounds, and he has black hair. The last time Miller was seen, he was wearing a gray sweatsuit. He was also carrying a black cane. Police released surveillance footage of Miller’s escape, but that’s not what ultimately led to his capture.
In a totally unrelated incident, Miller was on probation for criminal possession of a firearm. The NYPD contacted the suspect’s probation officer and then asked that professional to attempt to reach out to the suspect. The probation officer didn’t inform the suspect about the open warrant but instead asked him to show up for a meeting.
Police say they’ve successfully located and apprehended the suspect after he showed up to his own probation meeting on February 5th. Right now, Miller is facing charges of both his original misdemeanor and third-degree escape.
Third-Degree Escape in New York
Under the law in New York, a person will be considered in custody when they are restrained by a public servant pursuant to an authorized arrest or an order of a court. A police officer would be considered a public servant. The law further specifies that an individual will be guilty of escape in the third degree when the person escapes from custody.
This type of crime is considered a class A misdemeanor. In New York, a conviction for a class A misdemeanor can result in up to one year in jail, fines of up to $1,000, and a probation period of up to three years.
Navigating your charges will likely be difficult. You’re only likely to get with this type of crime when you’re under arrest for a different crime. With that in mind, you’ll have multiple charges to balance.
If you’ve been accused of third-degree escape, resisting arrest, or a similar type of crime, then our team here at Bukh Law Firm can help you navigate your situation. Schedule a call and get your free case evaluation now.
