NYPD: Man escapes NYC corrections department custody during hospital stay

A man escaped from Department of Corrections custody Wednesday afternoon during a visit to a Manhattan hospital, according to the NYPD.

Yenchun Chen, 44, was being treated for a medical issue at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in Gramercy Park when he decided to make a run for it around 4:30 p.m. Police officials said he used a string of tied together fabric, such as towels, to rappel down from a fifth–floor window.

Once on the ground, Chen hailed a yellow taxi and fled southbound on 2nd Avenue, police said.

Chen was arrested July 31 in Manhattan for criminal possession of a controlled substance.

The NYPD asked the public to help with the search. Chen is described as about 6’3” and 250 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. He has tattoos on his left arm and left hand, according to police.

Matt Katz contributed reporting. This is a developing story.