Police searching for escapee in Upper Darby
UPPER DARBY » Police using a drone and a helicopter were on the hunt in the Primos-Secane area for a woman who escaped constable custody from district court in Secane Thursday afternoon.
Carolyn Quiah, 26, was last seen in the area of Providence Road and Green Lane.
Quiah was wanted by Upper Darby on a warrant after she allegedly bit a CYS worker on Monday during a home visit, Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said. She was taken into custody by Pennsylvania State Police on that outstanding warrant Wednesday night, following a brief chase in western Delaware County that ended in a crash.
As a result of the crash, Chitwood said Quiah treated at Paoli Memorial Hospital for minor injuries and released.
Quiah, who was still in police custody and detained overnight, was listed for preliminary arraignment Thursday morning on the Upper Darby complaint. Chitwood said she was one of about five prisoners in the holding cell in Magisterial District Judge Kelly Micozzie-Aguirre’s court building, located in the 400 block of Ashland Avenue, when she made her escape, about 2 p.m.
Still dressed in a bloody hospital gown from the night before, Chitwood said, “She refused to wear the hospital gown in court.”
According to Chitwood, Quiah stripped off the gown. In response, one of two constables in the court went to retrieve a sheet from a nearby EMS office for the defendant to use as a cover-up.
“When he brings her the sheet, she rips the sheet and uses part of it as a bra,” Chitwood said.
At some point, Chitwood said, “She threw the rest of the sheet over the constable’s head and escaped.”
Quiah made off wearing panties, slippers and the partial sheet.
“The constables gave chase,” Chitwood said.
According to Chitwood, Quiah made her way a shopping center on Providence Road where she allegedly tried to drag an 82-year-old man out of his car, but was unsuccessful.
“He fought back, so she’s still on foot” Chitwood said.
As of about 5 p.m., police had established a perimeter from Oak to Ashland avenues, and from Green Lane to Bartram Avenue, in search of Quiah.
Authorities are asking anyone who sees Quiah to call 911.