Swiftly Located, Prisoner Who Escaped Was In State Police Custody: CSP

NEW HAVEN, CT — New details have been released after a prisoner briefly escaped police custody on Wednesday.

At 10:10 a.m., state police were notified by the New Haven Police Department that they currently had David Tate, 43, of New Haven, detained, due to having an outstanding arrest warrant out of Troop I, state police said.

At 10:43 AM, Troop I Troopers responded to the New Haven Police Department and took Tate into custody on the outstanding warrant. The warrant was for a previous investigation in which Tate left the custody of a half-way house in New Haven, where he was mandated to stay by court order, state police said. The warrant was drafted and applied for through New Haven Superior Court for the charge of first-degree escape.

Tate was transported to New Haven Correctional for processing. While parked at the sally port entrance awaiting entry, Tate managed to manipulate himself while handcuffed, unbuckled his seatbelt and actuated the door handle of the cruiser transporting him, state police said.

Tate escaped from custody at 11:02 AM. The Trooper transporting Tate immediately engaged him in a foot pursuit, however lost sight of Tate shortly thereafter, state police said. Nearby schools were placed into secure lockdown, and a perimeter was quickly established in an effort to prevent Tate's escape, state police said.

Troop I Troopers were assisted by the New Haven Police Department, Troop G Patrol Troopers, and numerous K9 teams in the search for Tate. Tate was located and taken back into custody on Dixwell Avenue in New Haven at 11:35 AM, state police said.

Tate was subsequently transported back to New Haven Correctional Center by a New Haven PD caged cruiser and processed on the outstanding warrant. Tate was subsequently charged with the following for the incident Wednesday, including: first-degree escape, interfering with an officer, and two counts of failure to comply with fingerprint requirements.

Tate was issued a court-set $25,000 bond for the arrest warrant and a $500,000 bond for the new charges. Tate was unable to post bond and was held awaiting arraignment at New Haven Superior Court.