Overview
- Thompson escaped custody while being escorted from an ambulance into Royal Darwin Hospital on Sunday night, leaving guards while handcuffed and wearing only shorts and socks.
- CCTV captured him in the Lyons area about 11:30pm the same night and police launched a public manhunt that warned anyone who assisted him would face prosecution.
- Officers from the Fugitive Taskforce arrested Thompson at a Darwin River address more than 48 hours after the escape and returned him to custody without incident.
- Local reporting says Thompson has been charged with theft, escape from lawful custody and assault a worker and a 45-year-old was charged with aiding an escape, while police continue to consider further charges.
- The escape is the third recent NT custody breach involving people alleged to have links to the Mongols, prompting scrutiny of prisoner transport and supervision and ongoing investigations into any wider assistance networks.