Thomas Issac Cano, a north Texas man who has been arrested eight times now, has gotten out of police custody - this time of his own volition - after he ran away while at a hospital emergency room Sunday afternoon.
He escaped from the Medical Center of Lewisville at around 5:30 p.m., police said, reported The Dallas Morning News. However, the events that led up to the incident began in the morning while Cano, 27, was in the Lewisville city jail after his most recent arrest.
The repeat offender was sitting in his jail cell that morning when he complained of heroin withdrawal symptoms, prompting an officer to escort Cano to the medical center to get checked out. While waiting to receive medical attention, the officer stepped away to help with an unrelated disturbance involving another patient. Using the distraction, Cano escaped the hospital handcuffed in front, while still wearing the gray T-shirt, blue jeans and green hospital socks he had on inside, according to NBC Dallas affiliate KXAS-TV.
Cano has been in jail multiple times on charges ranging from driving while intoxicated to evading arrest.
His most recent arrest came Saturday afternoon after police were called to a local Walmart by employees who found Cano slumped over his steering wheel. Upon their arrival, fearing that he was sick, police called paramedics to check him out. It was at that time, however, that Cano got his second wind, put his car in drive and took off, hitting several bags of landscaping material in the process, according to the Houston Chronicle. Police gave chase, but the incident was short-lived since Cano was driving with a flat tire. An officer broke the car window after Cano refused to leave the vehicle, used a stun gun and took Cano into custody.
As the search continues, police urge anyone who sees Cano or knows his whereabouts to contact the Lewisville Police Department non-emergency line at (972) 219-3640, the LPD Crime Tip Line at (972) 219-8477 or the Denton County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-388-8477.
Police say they believe Cano is neither armed nor dangerous.
