Escapee spotted in Marystown: RCMP

Police said Monday that a man who escaped from police custody this weekend has been spotted in southern Newfoundland.

RCMP said Andrew Kenneth Parsons, 35, was able to escape from the detachment's lockup in Marystown Saturday morning when an employee arrived to put a new mattress in his cell.

Sgt. Boyd Merrill said Parsons made a move and "pushed himself through the doorway." Although officers chased him, Parsons was able to escape to a nearby wooded area, Merrill said.

The force has launched an internal investigation into the incident.

RCMP have refused to identify the charges under which Parsons had been in custody, although he was scheduled to appear in provincial court later this week on two charges of sexual interference.

Merrill said Parsons was spotted in Marystown early Monday.

"We do know that he's trying to gain access to means to survive," Merrill told CBC News.

"We have an unconfirmed report of a theft from a vehicle this morning, telling us that money is gone, credit cards are gone and a prepaid cell phone is gone, so it is possible that he is responsible for that theft."

Merrill said Parsons will face an additional charge of assault in connection with his escape.

Police had released an image of Parsons to aid the search, and said he has been known to use aliases that include Jason Stanley Stewart, Stanley Stewart and Andrew Patterson.

Sgt. Boyd Merrill said there is a need for public concern, although he said police do not believe Parsons is a threat to the public at large.

"He's not going out and victimizing the public in a violent way," Merrill told CBC News. "The charges that are pending are more of a specific nature, to specific individuals."

Police described Parsons as five foot eleven and weighing about 170 pounds. He was last seen wearing a striped shirt and blue jeans.