VSP: Elusive suspect fails three times to escape custody, tried escape through ceiling tiles of hospital
Jan 15, 2025
YORK COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — A man who was injured in a police pursuit failed three times to elude custody, the last when he tried to escape through the ceiling of an area hospital, Virginia State Police said.
It was his third attempt at an escape from police for Robert Lee Manny, 33, of Newport News.
The last of those attempts was perhaps the most dramatic for Manny, as State Police said he was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center and asked to use the restroom, stating he couldn't wait until he was taken to jail. The trooper allowed Manny to use a restroom within the emergency room that's designated for single occupancy, state police said.
Within minutes, the trooper heard a commotion inside the restroom, opened the door, and found Manny had fled through the ceiling tiles into the ceiling, and the hospital was placed on lockdown status as law enforcement began a search of the hospital, state police said. Manny was back in custody a short time later.
State Police had pursued Manny earlier in the day.
Around 12:25 p.m., State Police ran the vehicle registration of a 2020 Ram pickup truck and confirmed it had been reported stolen. An attempt was made to stop the vehicle, but Manny refused, and a pursuit was initiated.
State Police pursued the vehicle into York County at the intersection of Victory Boulevard and Commonwealth Drive.
After successfully stopping the vehicle, Manny then fled on foot and was arrested shortly after.
Manny was taken to Riverside Hospital to be evaluated for injuries. He faces the following charges by Virginia State Police: felony eluding police, felony hit-and-run, felony assault on a law enforcement officer and possession of Schedule I/II narcotics.
After the alleged attempted escape through the ceiling tiles of the hospital, State Police said Manny will also be charged with destruction of property and escape from the custody of a law enforcement officer.