NT Police find 29yo Lazarus Bara Bara at Casuarina after allegedly escaping CBD watch house

Police have nabbed the 29-year-old alleged watch house escapee who has been on the run since Tuesday afternoon. Find out the latest.

NT Police hunting escaped prisoner. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Latest, May 9, 10am: Alleged escaped prisoner Lazarus Bara Bara has been found by NT Police nearly 48 hours after his dash from the Darwin CBD watch house.

Mr Bara Bara was one of three who made an alleged dash from the NT Correctional Custody facility on Knuckey St at about 2pm on Tuesday.

Police in an earlier statement said the other two men – aged 18 and 23 – were quickly apprehended near the Esplanade, but Mr Bara Bara was able to evade police capture.

NT Police did not initially release the identity of Mr Bara Bara, and only released his image and name to the public on Wednesday morning – more than 12 hours after his alleged escape.

On Wednesday, NT Police in a statement said Mr Bara Bara was last seen jumping into the tray of a ute which was believed to be heading south towards Adelaide River.

NT Police on Thursday morning said Mr Bara Bara had been “arrested a short time ago” at Casuarina after a foot pursuit.

Police reveal identity of alleged escapee

Update May 8, 9am: NT Police have revealed the identity of the prisoner who is alleged to have escaped custody and remains on the loose after more than 12 hours.

In a statement released on Wednesday morning, NT Police said Lazarus Bara Bara, 29, remained on the run after he allegedly absconded from the NT Correctional Custody facility on Knuckey St at about 2pm on Tuesday.

He was one of three men who allegedly initially escaped.

Lazarus Bara Bara named as the 29-year-old to have escaped custody on May 7, 2024. Picture: NTPFES

The other two men, aged 18 and 23, were quickly arrested around the Esplanade and are now back in custody, according to police.

Police allege Bara Bara fled the Darwin CBD, and was last seen jumping into the tray of a ute, believed to be travelling south towards Adelaide River.

Territory Duty Superintendent Troy Stephens previously said members of the public should not approach the escaped prisoner, but contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Prisoner still on the run after 12 hours

Updated, May 8, 8.00am: A 29-year-old prisoner who escaped custody is still on the loose more than 12 hours after he escaped the NT Correctional Custody at the Darwin Police Station.

An NT Police spokesman said the absconded prisoner’s name and image would likely be published before 9am on Wednesday.

Police on Tuesday said the man was last seen in Parap, wearing green prison attire with dark shorts.

Territory Duty Superintendent Troy Stephens previously said members of the public should not approach the escaped prisoner.

More to come.

Police flood into Darwin CBD after man escapes custody

May 7: NT Police have flooded into the Darwin CBD after three men escaped custody, with one man still believed to be on the loose.

Three men, aged 18, 23 and 29, escaped from the NT Correctional Custody at the Darwin Police Station on Knuckey Street, Darwin City, about 3pm Tuesday.

Corrections officers alerted NT Police immediately and two of the three men were quickly arrested and are now back in custody.

However, the 29-year-old remains on the loose and is believed to have fled out of the city with police currently hunting him down.

The man was last seen in Parap, wearing green prison attire with dark shorts.

Territory Duty Superintendent Troy Stephens said members of the public should not approach the escaped prisoner.

“If members of the public sight the man, or know of his whereabouts, do not approach him, please call Police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” he said.

The Darwin City watch house has been in use by Corrections for the past 14 months, despite the “temporary” accommodation for overflow prison populations meant to end in July last year.

The Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley has previously confirmed that up to 40 men were being held within the 16 cell short-stay watch-house facilities for up to 14 days each.

It is understood that only low security prisoners were kept in the city lockup, which is above the Mitchell St Coles.

Originally published as NT Police find 29yo Lazarus Bara Bara at Casuarina after allegedly escaping CBD watch house