Escaped prisoner apprehended in Gisborne

Escaped prisoner Lex Miller is now in Police custody after being apprehended and arrested in Gisborne last night.

The Bay of Plenty District Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Tim Anderson, says Miller was spotted at a Gisborne campground by an off-duty police officer who notified local Police. Miller had escaped from Rangipo Prison on Thursday 25 August.

Detective Inspector Anderson says Miller eventually gave himself up to Police after being surrounded while he was inside in a vehicle at the campground.

“Obviously we are very pleased to have Miller in custody. The crime for which he was originally imprisoned was serious, cold and calculated, and we had concerns for the safety of certain individuals who were associated with the case.

“While we didn’t have concerns for the wider public, he was considered dangerous.”

Detective Inspector Anderson says the search for Miller over the past eight days has proved a good example of New Zealand Police working across areas and Districts.

“Since Miller first escaped, Police staff from Taupo, Whakatane and Rotorua from the Bay of Plenty District, and then Gisborne Police from Eastern District, have been working seamlessly on the operation.

“Police work effectively across New Zealand as one force, which means we have the ability to quickly and efficiently share information to locate persons of interest to us.

“I have been impressed by the teamwork across the Bay of Plenty and Eastern, as teams working on the different phases during the week did an outstanding job to track and arrest a man who we considered to be dangerous.”

Detective Inspector Anderson says he would like to thank members of the community for the information provided this week, and the media for their support in keeping Miller’s face in front of the public.

“Police cannot operate alone, and we rely on information from members of the public to help keep their communities safer.”

Miller is due to appear in the Gisborne District Court today. There are no further details available at this time.