MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A 36-year-old man who police said escaped from custody at Mount Sinai Medical Center on Thursday was found hiding underneath a tarp inside the building following a large-scale search involving K-9s, drones and multiple law enforcement agencies, according to an arrest report from the Miami Beach Police Department.
Ejiofor Emmanuel Onyechi, whose was listed as homeless in the arrest report, had initially been arrested Wednesday after officers responded to a Burger King regarding reports of a man repeatedly harassing employees and asking them for money, police said.
According to the first arrest report, an employee told officers Onyechi had asked her for money that he claimed he intended to give to a homeless woman at the restaurant. The employee said she was afraid of Onyechi and asked officers to trespass him from the property.
Police said Onyechi initially identified himself as Emmanuel Onyechi but repeatedly refused to provide identification or legal documents confirming his legal name.
Officers eventually arrested him. During a search of his belongings, police said they found a Florida identification card bearing the name Ejiofor Emmanuel Onyechi, along with two debit cards under the same name.
Police also reported finding a black stun gun and a pink can of pepper spray in his possession. Both items were impounded as evidence.
A records check revealed Onyechi had multiple felony convictions, according to the report.
He was taken to the Miami Beach Police Department’s holding facility before being transported to Mount Sinai Medical Center for medical clearance.
Police say prisoner ran from hospital room
According to a second arrest report, officers were dispatched to the hospital Thursday after Onyechi escaped from custody.
Police said an officer assigned to watch Onyechi at the hospital removed his handcuffs after Onyechi said he needed to use the restroom.
Onyechi then walked in front of the officer before suddenly running toward the front door, according to the report.
The officer grabbed Onyechi by the arm, but police said Onyechi broke free and slammed the hospital room door on the officer before fleeing.
The officer chased him and saw Onyechi exit through a loading dock on the south side of the Skolnick Building, but then lost sight of him, the report stated.
Police issued a description of Onyechi and began searching for him.
Investigators reviewing hospital surveillance footage later saw Onyechi double back into the building, the report stated. Security personnel could not find footage showing him leaving again, leading officers to believe he was still somewhere inside.
Multiple officers and a K-9 entered the Skolnick Building to search for him, authorities said.
During the search, officers located a shoe believed to belong to Onyechi and checked several rooms without finding him, the report stated.
Police said officers eventually searched another room after a K-9 began scratching near an area covered by a tarp.
When the K-9 officer moved the tarp, she found Onyechi concealed underneath it with only his head exposed, police said.
The K-9 “engaged Onyechi in the exposed area” before the officer removed the dog, and Onyechi was taken back into custody, the report stated.
Crime scene personnel photographed Onyechi before Miami Beach Fire Rescue medically cleared him. He was then transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Multiple agencies involved in search
According to police, multiple officers established a perimeter and canvassed the hospital during the search.
The operation involved resources from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Highway Patrol, City of Miami Marine Patrol, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol and Aviation, Miami Beach Marine Patrol and City of Miami K-9.
Several Miami Beach drones were also deployed, and Miami Beach SWAT and K-9 units were called out, according to the report.
According to the arrest reports, Onyechi faces charges of escape, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and resisting an officer without violence.
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