Police Hunt For Two Escaped Prisoners

New Zealand Police Central News Release

16 January 2009

Police are trying to locate two prisoners who broke out of a police van at Palmerston North District Court yesterday afternoon (Thursday, 15 January).

The incident happened around 4.30pm. Three prisoners who had appeared in court had been locked into the van in the Sallyport at the rear of the court. The roller door to the Sallyport was also closed.

Two police officers were just collecting paperwork relating to the prisoners before transporting them away from the court when two of the men broke out of the van and activated the mechanism to the Sallyport to make good their escape.

One of the men is Gary Junior Kimura, aged 27, from Palmerston North, who had just received a two month prison sentence for burglary. The second man was Michael Adam Graham, aged 20 from Feilding. He had just made a first appearance charged with burglary, having been arrested earlier in the day.

The third prisoner remained in the police van.

Police are actively searching for the two men. Anyone with any information about the men's whereabouts are asked to contact 06 351 3600 or the Palmerston North Crime Line on 0800 808585.

An investigation is now underway to establish exactly how the men were able to break free from the van to identify and security issues or equipment failure. The exact mode of the escape will not be disclosed for operational reasons.

ENDS

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