Man charged after allegedly fleeing isolation by making ropes out of sheets

A man was charged after allegedly fleeing from a fourth-floor window of a managed isolation hotel by making ropes out of sheets.

Police said they had charged a 36-year-old man with an alleged leak from the facility, the Ramada on Federal Street in central Auckland, on Sunday night.

They had been making a series of inquiries since the man left and subsequently returned to the facility on Monday.

The man has been charged with failing to remain in a managed isolation or quarantine facility for a period required under the Covid-19 Public Health Response Act and Order 2020.

He is due in the Auckland District Court tomorrow.

As the matter was before the courts, the police could not comment further.

The man came from Australia on September 16 and tested negative on the third and twelfth day of his stay.

The sheet ladder was discovered at 8:20 a.m. Monday by security at the scene, said Air Commodore Darryn Webb, chief of managed isolation and quarantine.

“At approximately 8.24 am while the matter was being investigated, the occupant of the room showed up at the front door,” Webb said Monday.

Police quickly detained the man.

The man allegedly spent eight hours on the loose visiting different parts of the city.

He was captured on CCTV in Aotea Square at 1 am Monday, Webb said yesterday.

“The man has been seen by CCTV walking in parts of Auckland, from the city center to Newmarket, Epsom, Onehunga and Mt Albert before returning to the facility on Federal St.”

Early indications suggested the man broke the security latch on the window to force his way out.

“Safety improvements will be made at the facility and will include the installation of additional CCTV cameras as well as additional lighting at the likely point of the alleged man-out,” Webb said.

Police had reviewed a series of CCTVs, interviewed the man, surveyed the scene, and spoken to staff.

Public Health considered that the risk of Covid-19 for the public is low.