Ex-con who broke out of holding cell turns himself in

The 57-year-old man who escaped police custody in Manhattan last week surrendered to authorities Monday after a three-day stint on the run, law enforcement sources familiar with the case tell NBC 4 New York.

Police had responded to a call reporting an unknown male wandering inside of a Madison Avenue residence at 1:43 p.m. Friday. Cops rushed to the 25th precinct station house Friday afternoon, in the air, on the ground, and on four legs.

Days after finally apprehending a prisoner who escaped (while handcuffed), the NYPD is now dealing with another prisoner who somehow eluded them. Investigators are still trying to figure out how Collins managed to escape. Police say they went to check on Collins in the holding cell during the processing of his arrest, only to discover he was gone.

He was in possession of crack, heroin, marijuana and a silencer for a handgun at the time, police said. “This guy, you don’t mess with this guy”, a neighbor said. Police said they hoped it doesn’t take that long to get Arthur Collins back. Earlier this week, 23-year-old Tareek Arnold was arrested in East Harlem after a month on the run.

According to the state Corrections Department, Collins served prison time in the 1970s for attempted manslaughter and in the 1980s for attempted murder.