Police: New York inmate used bed sheets to escape from hospital's 5th floor

A New York man escaped police custody from the fifth floor of a hospital using bed sheets. Now, the search is on to find him.

Yenchun Chen, 44, was in police custody at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in Manhattan on Wednesday when he escaped the hospital through a window. 

He had been arrested on July 31 for possession of a controlled substance, the Department of Corrections told USA TODAY. He was taken to the hospital on August 4.

He was admitted for an issue involving his heart, according to WABC-TV.

Chen used hospital bed sheets and other linens to scale down the side of the hospital to the second floor, landing on an air-conditioning unit and using a ladder to get to street level, police told the outlet.

Chen had asked for several towels to take a shower, police say, adding that his absence wasn't realized until officers went to check on him in the shower, saw the open window and no sign of Chen.Once he escaped the hospital, police say he got into a taxi and hasn't been seen since.

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Police said Chen has a medium complexion and stands at 6-foot-3. He weighs 250 pounds and  has brown eyes and black hair. He has tattoos on his left arm and left hand.

Police also released surveillance photos that show him leaving the hospital.

They have asked anyone who sees him to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477.

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