Handcuffed prisoner escapes from police

A handcuffed prisoner leapt from a moving police car and escaped into the Bay of Plenty countryside this afternoon.

The man, who was facing burglary and threat charges, was being transferred by Police from Tauranga to Rotorua at the time, a Police spokeswoman said.

 "He's jumped out of a moving vehicle at Pyes Pa Rd.''

The man escaped around 2pm and was recaptured around 4pm.

"He's been found at a residential address in the area with which he has associations.''

He would be taken to Rotorua and would be facing a further charge of escaping police custody, she said.

It is not known whether he suffered injuries during his escape.

An internal police investigation will be launched into how the man was able to escape, she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News