SPRINGFIELD GARDENS — An escaped prisoner tracked down through an anonymous Crime Stoppers tip tried to elude officers once more by jumping out of a second-story window, the NYPD said.
Gerald Brooks, 39, who escaped custody last month, was found at a private home on Bedell Street Tuesday at 10 p.m., police said.
When officers first confronted him, he jumped out the window, but was unable to flee. He was arrested and charged with escaping police custody.
Police said he was uninjured in the fall.
Brooks was initially arrested on Oct. 20 on at least five outstanding warrants, the NYPD said.
Although his hands were cuffed behind his back, Brooks was able to push away a sergeant and escape at 654 Sheffield Ave. in East New York around 7:30 a.m. as officers were trying to transfer him to another precinct in Brooklyn, according to police.
Three officers chased Brooks, but he was able to outrun them as he fled northbound on Georgia Ave. towards New Lots Ave., police said.
Soon after he initially fled Police Commissioner Bill Bratton blasted officers from the 75th precinct after the escape, saying cops needed to pay more attention to their responsibilities.
At a Wednesday afternoon news conference, Chief of Detectives Bob Boyce said the sergeant and officers involved had been disciplined.
"We move people around the city, hundreds a day without any problems at all,” Boyce said. “Occasionally we have issues. Mr. Brooks is a career criminal. He was walking out, he was complacent and compliant at first, and all of a sudden he broke free and got away."
Brooks has 54 previous arrests for domestic violence and assault among other charges, police said.
Attorney information for Brooks was not immediately available.
