"My DOC staff brought inmate Joey Maratita to the Emergency Room to get seen, and when he came to get seen doctors requested to get some of the restraints off. And at that point, when some of the restraints came off, the inmate fled the emergency room," CNMI Department of Corrections Commissioner Anthony Torres told KUAM News. 

Torres spoke with KUAM News just after midnight, moments after 30-year-old Joey Maratita was captured. Maratita slipped past two Corrections Officers and fled on foot in a hospital gown. 

The call reporting his escape was made around 8 p.m. on Wednesday. KUAM News was on the scene as federal and local authorities, including the K-9 Unit, searched Garapan village for hours. 

Law enforcement set up checkpoints in the area and could be seen walking through some streets searching for Maratita. 

Just before midnight authorities say they located the escaped prisoner near this area, the Old Japanese Jail in Garapan.  Maratita was found in his boxer shorts and a mile away from the hospital. 

Torres said, "We brought him back over here to the emergency room to get cleared…and at this point when he is done we will bring him back to the facility and secure him."

The commissioner says community tips aided their search late into the night.

Torres said, "Everybody worked together. Nobody was harmed. None of my staff were injured and there were no injuries to report. The community is safe. Thank you to the community for being on alert. Unfortunately, things like this happen and I am also going to have to revisit and take a look at what went wrong and see what happened and what..are some of the causes that maybe could have been mitigated or prevented. "

Maratita was arrested after unauthorized entry at Chacha Ocean View Middle School which led to a lockdown. He was confronting a teacher over a personal matter that led to his violent outburst before he fled the school before police arrived. CNMI Department of Public Safety Commissioner Clement Bermudes said, "The escapee was somebody that was recently arrested in connection with a contempt of court, violating a temporary restraining order. And our involvement included activating our SWAT…So really, we're very responsive and quick to react to ensure the safety of the community."

We asked the Corrections chief what happens now.

"Well, I know the inmate's going to pick up an escape charge, I know that is for sure," he said. KUAM News asked what consequences the officers on duty will face. Torres said, "It is unfair for me to kind of really say because that is something we are going to have to look internally and I can’t really comment on any of that. "