PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence police say a suspect in a shooting escaped custody and remained at large for four hours because a detective didn’t properly close a door.
Michael Drepaul was captured at his home several hours after he escaped from a holding cell on Tuesday.
An investigation revealed that while a detective returned 34-year-old Drepaul to his holding cell, a scuffle broke out with another prisoner. The detective thought he properly shut the cell door, but had not.
Drepaul was arrested in connection with a shooting at a convenience store. He pleaded not guilty Wednesday to misdemeanor escape charges.
WJAR-TV reports that Drepaul’s record shows he tried to escape custody in 1999.
