Police said the man was taken to the hospital for medical care after he was arrested, and escaped for 45 minutes when police went to adjust his handcuffs.
MOUNT LAUREL -- A 38-year-old Audubon man is facing robbery, escape, weapons and drug charges after police said he swung a hypodermic needle at employees who caught him shoplifting and later escaped police custody.
Police said Brian K. Davis was at the ShopRite on Nixon Drive at 1:32 p.m. on Monday when he attempted to walk out of the store with a car full of $111 worth of stolen items.
When he was confronted by employees, he swung at them with hypodermic needles and threatened to stab them. The employees were able to take him down, however, and apprehend him until police arrived. No one was injured during the incident.
While in custody in the back of a police vehicle, Davis said he had a medical emergency and was then taken to Kennedy Hospital in Cherry Hill.
There, as police had to change his handcuffs for a procedure, Davis escaped from the officers and fled the emergency room. He was taken back into custody about 45 minutes later.
He faces charges of robbery, escape, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a hypodermic syringe, possession of heroin, and resisting arrest.
He remains in Burlington County Jail in lieu of $284,500 full cash bail.
Michelle Caffrey may be reached at mcaffrey@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ShellyCaffrey. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.
