‘Not too late’ for escapee Jake Mark Pearce to surrender, say police

Police are confident they know the region escaped prisoner Jake Mark Pearce is in as they say the case will “only ever end up one way”.

Jake Mark Pearce. Picture SUPPLIED

POLICE say it’s “not too late” for a wanted man whose escape from custody sparked an air and land search of central Hobart to hand himself in.

Despite spending four days following “strong leads”, officers are yet to locate Jake Mark Pearce.

The 21-year-old, of Maydena, was arrested about 6am on Saturday in Bridgewater for an alleged breach of bail.

He then fled “accompanying police” un-handcuffed at 3.15pm that day while blood tests “associated with the police investigation” were being carried out at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

COPS UNDER FIRE OVER CBD MANHUNT

PRISONER FLED FROM ‘ACCOMPANYING POLICE’

Glenorchy CIB Detective Inspector Troy Morrisby on Tuesday told the Mercury cases of this nature “only ever end up one way” — with the escapees back behind bars.

“This won’t go away, this will continue until we get him back into our custody,” he said.

“It’s not too late for him to approach us to hand himself in. That would be the best way for him to mitigate any further damages in regards to the charges he will be facing.”

A police officer searches the University Rose Garden, near the Hobart Aquatic Centre, during the hunt for Jake Mark Pearce on Saturday. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Inspector Morrisby said police working on the case had spent the past few days conducting searches at addresses linked to Pearce.

“We’re confident we know the region he’s in and the general area at the moment,” Inspector Morrisby said.

“The other part of this is that if he’s located at someone’s address and it’s clearly an associate of his, then he’s placing them at risk of facing charges in relation to aiding him and housing him while he’s an escapee from custody.

“I’m sure he wouldn’t want that either, but that’s the way it’s heading if he doesn’t wish to come forward and surrender himself to police.”

Police did not reveal Pearce had escaped custody until 20 hours after the initial alert was sent out — instead saying only that he had been sighted in the CBD and his location was being sought as part of an ongoing investigation.

Tasmanian Police Assistant Commissioner Richard Cowling on Monday said Pearce was not handcuffed as he was “co-operative and compliant up until the point he escaped”.

“At the time of escaping police custody he was living in the community on court bail and posed no threat to the wider community,” Assistant Commissioner Cowling said.

“Had he posed a threat when he escaped custody we would have said that clearly at the time.

“The escape will be subject to an internal police review.”

Anyone with information on Pearce’s whereabouts is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.