Search underway in Port St. Lucie for reported escaped prisoner from Fort Pierce

PORT ST. LUCIE — Investigators Monday are searching for what was described as a prisoner who left a Fort Pierce hospital in a carjacked vehicle before abandoning it miles away to the south, officials said.

Port St. Lucie Police, Fort Pierce Police and St. Lucie County Sheriff’s officials are coordinating after the prisoner, identified as Ernest Lee Reese, 28, about 7:30 a.m. Monday reportedly escaped law enforcement custody at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, according to Sgt. Dominick Mesiti, Port St. Lucie Police spokesperson.

Officials searched for Reese in the area of Northwest St. James Drive and Northwest North Macedo Boulevard, which is where Reese appeared to abandon a vehicle taken in a carjacking near Lawnwood hospital.

According to Fort Pierce Police officials, Reese was arrested around 1 a.m. Monday in connection with a domestic violence incident and an outstanding warrant.

Around 6:33 a.m., Reese was transported to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital after he claimed to be having a health-related issue. About an hour later, after being medically cleared, Reese fled from custody, Fort Pierce police spokesman Larry Croom stated in a release.

Minutes later, Reese carjacked a victim in the area of the 1200 block of North Lawnwood Circle. The victim’s vehicle was located in the area of Northwest North Macedo Boulevard and Northwest St. James Drive in Port St. Lucie.

Standing at Northwest North Macedo Boulevard and Northwest St. James Drive, Port St. Lucie Police Assistant Chief Leo Niemczyk said the alleged escaped prisoner was spotted on video at an apartment complex not far north of Northwest North Macedo Boulevard and Northwest St. James Drive.

“It was determined that he has a female acquaintance within that complex,” Niemczyk said. “Shortly after that (a) vehicle belonging to the female acquaintance was seen leaving the complex.”

Neimczyk said investigators presume the escapee was in the vehicle at the time. That vehicle was stopped on Northwest St. Lucie West Boulevard, though Reese wasn’t in it, Niemczyk said.

“She did admit to us that she dropped him off at another location in PSL,” Niemczyk said. “So this is a very active manhunt at this time.”

He said it's possible the female acquaintance could face criminal consequences.

The victim of the carjacking wasn’t injured, according to Croom.

Reese is still being sought by law enforcement. He is wanted for aggravated battery, resisting an officer without violence, possession of a weapon by a felon, carjacking, escape and an outstanding warrant for failure to appear. Other charges could be added once he is taken into custody, Croom stated.

He's believed to be handcuffed and is "considered dangerous," Port St. Lucie police officials stated via Facebook.

It’s not the first time a prisoner has been accused this month of leaving the hospital.

On Feb. 1 at about 9:15 p.m., a 19-year-old man considered an escaped prisoner left Lawnwood hospital on foot.

Justice Reynolds walked away from HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital west in the 1700 block of South 23rd Street, which is the approximate address of the facility.

Larry Croom, Fort Pierce police spokesperson, has said Reynolds was not in the custody of Fort Pierce police but officers were called to find him when it was learned he left the hospital.

It wasn’t immediately clear Monday whether Reynolds has been located.

Anyone with information about Reese or his whereabouts are advised not approach him and call 911 immediately. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 800-273-8477.

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Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Search in PSL for police escapee, carjacking suspect from Fort Pierce