Escaped Prisoner in Auckland City District, 11:00 am

A man who was to appear in the Auckland District Court today on burglary and vehicle crime charges is on the run after escaping Police custody at about 11 this morning.

Tuainekore Charlie 'Charlie' Rangi, a 30 year-old Maori, escaped from an interview room at the Glen Innes Police Station after being arrested for failing to appear in Court.

He is considered dangerous and is known to have connections and associates in the south Auckland suburbs of Otara and Manurewa.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark McHattie of Auckland City CIB says anyone assisting Rangi could face prosecution for doing so.

'Anyone who knows where he is or who is approached by him should contact Police on 111 as soon as practicably possible,' Mr McHattie said.

'Police throughout the region have been notified of his escape and patrols are on the lookout for him but we also need the assistance of members of the public and his friends and associates to track him down.'

Rangi is about 177cm tall and of solid build with medium length, straight black hair. He is clean shaven and has olive skin. There is a scar on his right cheek that runs straight down the cheek from just below the right eye.
He also has tattoos, one of which is on his right forearm and is of a coiled king cobra snake. There is another - a picture of a snooker 8 ball - on the left hand between the thumb and forefinger.