HALIFAX — An internal review says human error and equipment error allowed a prisoner to escape from custody last month in Nova Scotia.
Marc Joseph Pellerin escaped from the sheriff's van in the parking lot of the Truro Justice Centre Dec. 4 as he was being transferred from New Brunswick to Halifax for a court appearance.
Pellerin was recaptured Dec. 7 by the RCMP in Stewiacke, roughly 30 kilometres south of Truro.
The review found that Pellerin was able to free one of his hands from his handcuffs during transport due to a "unique ability to contort his hand", and was then able to break a link on the chain connecting his leg restraints, which remained secured to his ankles.
He was able to jump from the van during the transfer in Truro and then flee because sheriffs failed to maintain control by gripping his upper arm.
The review also found that a risk assessment wasn't carried out before the prisoner was transported and that checks were not performed to make sure that radios carried by the deputies and the video system inside the van were working properly.
