Escaped Dorchester inmate captured in Fredericton after 'extensive pursuit'

RCMP say a29-year-old inmate who escaped from Dorchester Penitentiary was captured after a lengthy chasein Fredericton Friday evening by members of RCMP and the Fredericton Police Force.

Jeffrey MacLeanwas arrested after a pursuit throughout the southside of thecity, which began at 6:50 p.m., saidAlycia Bartlett, spokeswoman for the Fredericton police.

In a statement, Bartlett said the chase began when police spotted MacLean in avehicle on Montgomery Street and he refused to stop.

"During the incident, MacLean committed a theftfrom a local business and attempted to steal another vehicle while committing arobbery," said Bartlett.

About 40 minutes later, she said, MacLeancrashed a vehicle into two police cruisers and then fled on foot. Bartlett said he was "apprehended quickly" and taken into custody by Fredericton police and the RCMP.

A number of police carsconvergedon Charlotte Street in downtownFredericton, where awitness reported seeing a man run from a crashed vehicle.

'On foot with a baseball bat'

Ross Stewart said he saw the man run "on foot with a baseball bat."

Charlotte Street hasbeen closed to the public and is now "a crime scene,"saidpolice

Members of Fredericton's primary response team, the police service dog, major crime teamand forensic identification section responded to the incident, said Bartlett.

"Two Fredericton police officers received minor injuries as a result of the incident, but unrelated to the motor vehicle collision," she said.

Earlier on Friday, RCMP Const. Jullie-Rogers-Marsh said MacLeanstole a Toyota Corollafrom the Royal Roadin Memramcook, near Moncton,after assaulting the ownerof the vehicle. The owner was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

MacLean, who escaped from the prison's minimum security unit at 3:15 p.m.AT,is serving a sentence of nine years, four months and 21 days for armed robbery, robbery with violence and disguise with intent, according to a statement from the Correctional Service of Canada.

The correctional service and Dorchester Penitentiary "are conducting a joint investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident," the statement said.

MacLeanis expected to appear in court at a later date to face charges related to this incident, police said.