Tairawhiti police have captured a 31-year-old man who escaped from police custody earlier today.
The man was being interviewed at Gisborne Police Station, regarding a number of existing charges, when he escaped on foot at approximately 9.45am.
After several failed attempts to break into vehicles he succeeded in stealing a car from the Gisborne CBD.
Senior Sergeant Steven Sutherland said the assailant them managed to evade a roadblock that police had set-up at Matawai.
"The man then drove into the Waioeka Gorge heading towards Opotiki," Mr Sutherland said.