Search underway in Port St. Lucie for reported escaped prisoner from Fort Pierce
PORT ST. LUCIE — Investigators Monday are searching for what was described as a prisoner who left a Fort Pierce hospital in a carjacked vehicle before abandoning it miles away to the south, officials said.
Port St. Lucie Police, Fort Pierce Police and St. Lucie County Sheriff’s officials are coordinating after the prisoner, identified as Ernest Lee Reese, 28, about 7:30 a.m. Monday reportedly escaped law enforcement custody at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, according to Sgt. Dominick Mesiti, Port St. Lucie Police spokesperson.
Officials searched for Reese in the area of Northwest St. James Drive and Northwest North Macedo Boulevard, which is where Reese appeared to abandon a vehicle taken in a carjacking near Lawnwood hospital.
Port St. Lucie Police, Fort Pierce Police and St. Lucie County Sheriff’s officials are coordinating after Ernest Lee Reese, 28, reportedly escaped law enforcement custody at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, about 7:30 a.m. on Monday Feb. 26, 2024 according to police. Reese is accused of carjacking a vehicle that was found abandoned in the area of Northwest St. James Drive and Northwest North Macedo Boulevard, in Port St. Lucie.
According to Fort Pierce Police officials, Reese was arrested around 1 a.m. Monday in connection with a domestic violence incident and an outstanding warrant.
Around 6:33 a.m., Reese was transported to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital after he claimed to be having a health-related issue. About an hour later, after being medically cleared, Reese fled from custody, Fort Pierce police spokesman Larry Croom stated in a release.
Minutes later, Reese carjacked a victim in the area of the 1200 block of North Lawnwood Circle. The victim’s vehicle was located in the area of Northwest North Macedo Boulevard and Northwest St. James Drive in Port St. Lucie.
Standing at Northwest North Macedo Boulevard and Northwest St. James Drive, Port St. Lucie Police Assistant Chief Leo Niemczyk said the alleged escaped prisoner was spotted on video at an apartment complex not far north of Northwest North Macedo Boulevard and Northwest St. James Drive.
“It was determined that he has a female acquaintance within that complex,”…
