Escaped prisoner's freedom run halted by lamppost

Escaped prisoner Kerry Taylor's run of freedom came to an end in Palmerston North yesterday when he crashed a car into a lamppost while being chased by police.

Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan said Taylor was seen in the suburb of Cloverlea at about 3pm by a police officer patrolling the area.

Taylor fled when the officer tried to pull him over, but crashed into a lamppost and tried to escape on foot.

The officer chased him for a couple of blocks before catching him.

It was the second car chase involving Taylor in two days after he managed to escape from police north of Foxton, following a 15-minute high-speed chase on Sunday.

Armed offenders squad members and police swarmed to the area where he abandoned a car, but couldn't find him.

Taylor, who escaped from Manawatu Prison eight days ago, is considered dangerous and residents in the area where he escaped spent a nervous night locked in their homes at the request of police.

He is due to appear in the Palmerston North District Court today to face charges of escaping from custody.

- NZPA