Oak Park police catch prisoner who fled from ER

Man charged with retail theft attempts to slip away from police after being taken to the hospital

Saturday, March 9th, 2013 8:00 AM

Updated: Tuesday, March 12th, 2013 3:31 PM

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

By Jean Lotus

Forest Park Review Editor

Oak Park police arrested a 45-year-old Maywood man who escaped from their custody after being taken to the emergency room at Rush Oak Park Hospital, Thursday morning around 8:30 a.m.

Leroy Burton had been arrested March 6 and charged with retail theft for allegedly shoplifting from a business in the 200 block of Lake Street.

"He was on his way to a bond hearing and he said he wasn't feeling well," said Detective Sgt. Michael Lepczynski. Burton slipped away from police in the emergency room, located in the 500 block of Maple Ave. and fled eastbound. Police told dispatchers he was wearing a hospital gown and jeans.

Burton had shed the hospital gown by the time he was found on the porch of a house in the 600 block of Home Ave., according to a neighbor. A K-9 police dog assisted with the arrest, according to the neighbor.

"He was a big guy, wearing no shirt and pants," the neighbor said.

Police reports say Burton was "apprehended within minutes," with the help of River Forest and Forest Park police. Burton was charged with escape from police custody.

This article was updated to include charges filed by Oak Park police.

Reader Comments

3 Comments - Add Your Comment

Comment Policy

Matt Nordquist

Posted: March 13th, 2013 7:00 AM

it is common practice for most village police to leg shackle such patients to bed as a humanpolice might have to turn there back momentarily for legit reasons

Edward Smitty from Maywood

Posted: March 12th, 2013 10:26 AM

I have an idea - let's put the vicious dog in front of the ER and catch people that escape. if he bites them, then they will not have far to go for treatment

S. Miller from Oak park

Posted: March 11th, 2013 1:35 PM

I would like to more about how the escaped prisoner was able escape the OP police. The police did NOT find him quickly considering he was on someone's front porch and there were several cops surrounding the house searching all around and it took the dog to find him. I watched the whole thing. Also there are numerous other Oak Park hospital patients who have escaped and wandered the surrounding neighborhood knocking on doors. What's up with OP hospital security. Please post other incidents!

Find a garage sale near you!