Asst Commissioner Peter Malley on hunt for escaped prisoner

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
We know the detectives from the Northern Territory Police Fugitive
Task Force. They're continuing to search for escape prisoner Isaac Thompson,
the twenty six year old escape custody while being escorted
from an ambulance into the emergency department at Royal Darwin
Hospital on Sunday night. Joining us on the show, is
he Assistant Police Commissioner Peter Maley from Crime Command. Good

(00:22):
morning to you. Good morning Katy, Peter, thanks so much
for your time this morning. Now, I understand that Supplied
CCTV had captured Thompson in the Lions area about eleven
thirty pm on the night that he escaped. Has there
been any further sightings of this bloke?

Speaker 2 (00:37):
No, we haven't heard anything else. Katie and the Fugitive
Task Force throughout making all their inquiries and doing all
the things that they normally do, and they are really
good at their job. But make no mistake, you know,
this is a proper fugitive hunt.

Speaker 1 (00:50):
So is this bloke dangerous? I mean you've urged the
public not to approach him. Police have urged the public
not to approach him. Is he dangerous?

Speaker 2 (00:58):
Generally, these people from outlaw motorcycle gangs more dangerous to
other people from motorcycle gangs and other criminals than what
they are to the general public. So while we say
don't approach him, if you do, you see him reported
to us and we'll try and come and get him.
But you don't approach. But ye, generally to the public
then not really, Yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:19):
Just stay away. Tell me, do you believe that he's
being helped by maybe other members of that motorcycle group
or other members of the public.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
Absolutely is, and you know they'll do the best I can.
But I caution those people that are helping him. Harboring
an escaped criminal is a serious offense and you might
find yourself in prison.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
Well, I believe last time that there was somebody who'd
escaped not too long ago, that there was a couple
of people then that ended up being charged. Wasn't there
along with that person when they're recaptured.

Speaker 2 (01:50):
I'm spot on, we charge a couple that were also
helping him, and there before the courts as we speak.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
Now, you mentioned in the fugitive Task Force. I mean,
what you know, how many police have you got working
on recapturing this person and what teams are involved?

Speaker 2 (02:07):
So right, now we have the Gang's Task Force, we
have the Fugitive Task Force, and we have the Dog
Operations Unit. So we're all over the place saturating everything,
all his associates, all his family, spending a bit of
time with his mum, you know. So there's plenty to do.
And look, I'll just say that it's only a matter

(02:27):
of time. But you know what he should do is
go to the nearest police station and hand himself into.

Speaker 1 (02:32):
US Assistant Commissioner. This is the third prison escape involving
known associates of the Mongol's Motorcycle Gang. Are you concerned
that they're may be conspiring while they're in prison, or
that information is being sort of leaked to each other,
or that something you know is going on here.

Speaker 2 (02:49):
Yeah, they'll definitely be spending time together in prison. We
monitor calls, et cetera, as everybody would know and expect.
But it's frustrating for place when these type of people
do escape. You know, I know corrections are going through
an eternal review and relation to some of the practices,
but for us, we know these guys are real criminals

(03:11):
and they will take every opportunity they can to escape
from custody using force threats anything to get back to
large and so it's up to us now. Now the
ball's been dropped and we've got it, and now we've
got to get him back.

Speaker 1 (03:27):
Into customer and by the sounds of it, throwing everything
at it and everything at getting him back into into
that custody. What should people do if they spot.

Speaker 2 (03:38):
Him, don't approach him, like I said, but ployees, give
us a call straight away and let us know where
he was, where he was heading, what he's wearing, who
he's with, if he's in a car, a redgoe, and
we'll take it from there.

Speaker 1 (03:52):
And do you reckon he's still in the Darwin region,
I reckon he is.

Speaker 2 (03:57):
Well.

Speaker 1 (03:57):
Hopefully someone's listening this morning who might have some in
that can assist the Northern Territory Police. As I said,
sounds like you guys are will and truly onto it.
Anything else we should be aware of, Assistant Commissioner about
this escape before we let you go.

Speaker 2 (04:10):
No, not really, Katie. It's just like I said, it's
frustrating because it diverts our resources from keeping the community
safe in other areas to now having to grab this
guy and get him back into custody.

Speaker 1 (04:21):
All right, Well, let's hope that you can catch him
sooner rather than later, and that the next time we
talk he's back in custody. Assistant Commissioner Peter Mallley really
appreciate your time. I know you're busy this morning. Thanks Katie,
thank you, thanks so much