A remand prisoner who escaped from guards while leaving a Perth hospital has been recaptured following a pursuit in which he allegedly deliberately drove at a police officer and damaged six cars.
The 25-year-old man was on remand for property offences and escaped while leaving Fiona Stanley Hospital about 5.40pm on Saturday.
Police say he later stole a silver Hyundai Tuscon from a home in Leeming, in Perth's south, on Saturday night.
He was recaptured just after 11am on Sunday on Tonkin Highway in Gosnells, in Perth's southeast, following a pursuit through several suburbs including Gosnells, Kelmscott, Armadale and Seville Grove.
Police allege before his arrest the man deliberately drove at an officer who was attempting to deploy a stinger device.
Six police cars were damaged during the incident and the man was taken to Royal Perth Hospital for assessment.
He will be remanded in custody to appear in Fremantle Magistrates Court on Monday charged with escaping lawful custody, burglary, stealing, stealing a motor vehicle and driving recklessly, six counts of unlawful acts with intent to endanger life, and several traffic offences including failing to stop.
WA opposition leader Mark McGowan said similar escapes had happened too many times in the past.
"Dangerous prisoners escaping is not good. When it does happen, the government needs to explain exactly why it happened and how they'll prevent it in the future," he told reporters.
Police Minister Liza Harvey said it was a great concern any time a prisoner escaped custody and it was up to the Department of Corrective Services to determine what happened.
