A man who escaped from police custody this morning then evaded police for almost four hours has been caught.
Police said the 31-year-old man was being interviewed at Gisborne police station when he escaped about 9.45am.
The man then tried to break into several vehicles before he managed to steal a car from the Gisborne CBD, Senior Sergeant Steven Sutherland said.
He said the man then managed to evade a roadblock that police had set up at Matawai,before driving into the Waioeka Gorge.
"A helicopter was deployed, along with a number of staff from Opotiki and a police dog handler," Mr Sutherland said.
"While in the gorge he abandoned the stolen vehicle and tried to escape by foot."
The man was finally caught just before 1.30pm by a police dog and a number of police.
Mr Sutherland said the man was now being questioned by police.
