Manhunt over, Nypd fugitive caught by U.S. marshals in Connecticut

UPDATE: A task force of U.S. marshals from New York found Jose Rodriguez in Uncasville, near the Mohegan Sun casino, and took him into custody without incident — roughly 120 miles from the Route 4 hotel parking lot where he jumped behind the wheel of an unmarked city police vehicle, hands cuffed behind his back, and drove off by steering with his knees, according to reports from the NYPD.

Jerry DeMarco

11/18/2010 8:06 p.m.

RELATED STORY: Amid the concern generated over the escape of a fugitive in Bergen County, a Cliffside Park resident immediately began loading his gun just in case — and it went off, the bullet grazing his hand:
Cliffside Park man accidentally shoots himself after hearing fugitive reports

Rodriguez was handcuffed, in leg irons and without shoes when he bolted from New York City Police Department detectives who, along with U.S. marshals, had followed him from the Bronx to the Holiday on Route 4 in Fort Lee Wednesday afternoon.

Rodriguez, in separate mugshots

After getting behind the wheel of an unmarked NYPD vehicle, hands behind his back, Rodriguez — aka “Flip” or “Flipper” — drove off, steering with his knees.

Authorities late Tuesday night mistakenly believed they had caught Rodriguez following a chase on the Garden State Parkway that ended at a toll plaza in Egg Harbor Township. But a law enforcement official with knowledge of the search said it was actually someone else wanted by authorities.

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