Escaped prisoner in Truro wasn't cuffed when he ran, sheriff says

A New Brunswick man on the lam in Nova Scotia wasn't cuffed when he escaped from sheriffs in Truro on Friday, according to Nova Scotia's top sheriff.

Around 5:45 p.m. Friday in the parking lot of the Truro Justice Centre, Marc Joseph Pellerin, 43, was being moved into a sheriff's van, Fred Hildebrand, director of sheriff services for Nova Scotia, said Saturday.

Pellerin was being transferred from a jail in Shediac, N.B., to Halifax for a court appearance scheduled for Monday. The prisoner was accompanied by four sheriffs, Hildebrand said.

Pellerin then ran, he said.

"When he left the vehicle, he did not have his handcuffs on or his restraints on," Hildebrand said."They chased him for several blocks in Truro and they couldn't catch him."

Officers lost him in downtown Truro, he said.

Prisoner has history of fleeing

Pellerin has a history of escaping police custody.

In May, Pellerin was arrested by Halifax Regional Police at a pawn shop on Windmill Road in Dartmouth where he was tackled by the owner of the shop and police.

Pellerin was accused of stealing some gold and silver items, an old pistol, some carvings and a century-old Cameron Highlanders of Canada regimental uniform from a high-end antique shop in Chester. The antiques community put the word out to pawn shops to look out for these items. The military uniform was particularly easy to spot with its big feather bonnet, red tunic and long sword.

On May 12, the Windmill Road pawn shop purchased the uniform from Pellerin. A day later, he was back to sell the pistol and it was then that Pellerin was apprehended.

After he was arrested, Pellerin was taken to a police station. Upon arrival, Pellerin escaped from the vehicle and fled. The officer called for backup and chased Pellerin, who was soon apprehended by police.

In March, Pellerin was accused of stealing a gold chain and loose diamonds from a jewelry shop at Mic Mac Mall.

Officials describe Pellerin as a white man, five feet seven inches tall and weighing around 70 kg. He has tattoos on both arms, brown eyes and brown hair. He was wearing blue jeans and sneakers.

Pellerin, originally from New Brunswick, is on remand for a number of property-related charges. Pellerin is still at large.