Manhunt continues after suspect escapes police custody in Harlem

HARLEM (WABC) -- The manhunt continues for the man who escaped police custody while being taken from a Harlem NYPD precinct to Central Booking.

Tareek Arnold, 23, was in handcuffs being transported from the 32nd Precinct stationhouse in Harlem around 7:45 p.m. Tuesday when he pushed an officer and ran away, police said.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said Thursday more than 50 locations have been searched.

"Every one of his gang members have been talked to, we have knocked on their doors," said Boyce. "Some of them are out of state, most of them are in state. We have a very tight ring centering on Upper Manhattan and some neighboring states."

Police stood outside the building Wednesday where Arnold lived with a close family friend who did not want to be identified.

"He needed a place to stay, things happen around here. You don't really know what happened," the friend said.

But police think they know what happened, that Arnold shot a man in a bodega on June 8th and they say they have video to prove it.

But more recent video shows Arnold running from police Tuesday night with his hands cuffed behind him.

The police couldn't catch the much younger and motivated Arnold. You see him run from the 32nd Precinct, far ahead of the detectives who were trailing him.

"I don't know how someone can run that fast with his hands behind his back," said Alicia Yarborough, an eyewitness.

For several hours Tuesday night, police searched the apartment building at 480 St. Nicholas Avenue, keeping some residents out.

"I just want this all to be over," said Curtis Schumacher, a resident.

The woman he lived with says it's time for Tareek to give himself up.

"I would like him to...that's all," she said.

Police say he has six prior arrests and served four years in prison on a 2010 weapons possession charge.

Arnold was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, gray sweatpants and gray sneakers.