Canada - Manhunt underway after masked, armed man helps Alta. prisoner escape

A manhunt is underway in Alberta, after an armed man helped an inmate escape while the prisoner was being transferred to a hospital.

Peace River RCMP say Harley John Lay, 29, was taken from correctional officers at approximately 10 a.m. on Monday morning.

Police say correctional officers were taking Lay from the Peace River Correctional Centre to the Peace River Hospital for medical treatment, when an armed man wearing a mask confronted them outside the hospital. Peace River is located about 500 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.

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Lay and his companion jumped into a beige Dodge minivan. Police say the van was last seen in Peace River on 74th Street, possibly headed toward Highway 2.

RCMP across much of northwest Alberta, including aircraft, were involved in a manhunt for Lay and his companions.

Lay was being held on remand at the Peace River Correctional Facility awaiting a trial date.

He was scheduled to go to trial in May on 16 charges, including assaulting an RCMP officer with bear spray, evading police, unlawful confinement, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and four counts of failing to comply with bail conditions.

His criminal record dates back to 2004.

People are being advised not to approach the men

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RCMP said Harley John Lay was arrested at about 11:30 a.m. near Fort Nelson. Two others were also taken into custody after a vehicle was stopped by police.

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