Tolu Maanaiama (27) who escaped from the Dunedin Central Police Station about 3.30pm, was located at an associate's home in the city about 8.30pm, police said.
He was arrested and charged with escaping police custody, and was to be kept in custody overnight to appear in the Dunedin District Court today.
Senior Sergeant Steve Aitken said as soon as Maanaiama was found and apprehended, police turned their attention to how he escaped.
''Our first priority was to locate him and get him back into custody. The circumstances surrounding how he escaped will certainly be looked at,'' he said.
A ''number'' of police staff were involved in the search for Maanaiama, who was arrested ''without incident'', Snr Sgt Aitken said.
Inspector Greg Sparrow, of Dunedin, had earlier said Maanaiama was believed to be dangerous and should not be approached by members of the public.
Police declined to provide details of his active charges but in 2005 Maanaiama was sentenced to four years' jail after the robbery of a Christchurch dairy with a machete and an imitation firearm.
Police would not be further drawn on how he escaped.
