Inmate who jumped jail fence charged with escaping lawful custody: N.B. RCMP

A Shediac, N.B., inmate who was on the loose for a month has been arrested.

An inmate who was arrested after being on the run for more than a month has been charged in connection with his escape from a Shediac, N.B., jail.

The RCMP says 35-year-old Todd John Lewis appeared in Moncton provincial court on Tuesday to face charges of escaping lawful custody and breaching probation.

Lewis, who had previously been charged with weapons-related offences, was remanded into custody until his next court appearance on March 31.

Police say Lewis jumped the fence at the Southeast Regional Correctional Centre before 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 12, but they only learned of his escape about seven hours later.

The New Brunswick RCMP issued an alert ready message at 12:20 p.m. on Feb. 13, advising residents that an inmate had escaped from the Southeast Regional Correctional Centre. They said he could be in the Greater Moncton area and warned that he may be “armed and dangerous.”

Police ended the alert on Feb. 14, though they were still actively searching for Lewis.

The RCMP said Monday that Lewis had been arrested in Moncton — almost six weeks later — but they didn’t provide any additional details.

With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Jesse Huot and Stephanie Tsicos

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