Escaped prisoner Marc Joseph Pellerin apprehended by RCMP

TRURO, N.S. – Colchester District RCMP arrested Marc Joseph Pellerin after responding to a break and enter.

Around 8 p.m. Monday evening, RCMP responded to an intrusion alarm at Logan Drilling in Stewiacke.

Upon arrival at the scene, RCMP determined there had been a break and enter at the business and a vehicle had been stolen.

A short time later, a man was seen walking on the road.  RCMP say The man evaded attempts by an officer to speak with him and ran into the woods.  A foot chase ensured and officers apprehended the man who turned out to be Marc Joseph Pellerin.

Pellerin escaped Friday

A Canada-wide warrant has now been issued for Marc Joseph Pellerin, the offender who escaped from custody of four sheriffs in the parking lot of the Truro Justice Centre Friday afternoon.

“As each day goes by, we’ll keep working the file until he’s captured,” said Truro Police inspector Rob Hearn.

READ MORE: Police searching for prisoner who escaped custody while being transferred to sheriff’s van

Early reports suggested Pellerin was not in shackles and handcuffs, however officials say Pellerin was in fact handcuffed and shackled when he was originally placed in a sheriffs van.

Somehow, those restraints came off and when Pellerin was being taken from one sheriffs vehicle to another and he ran away.

The last known sighting of the 43-year-old was when he ran towards Pleasant Street in Truro shortly before 6 p.m. Friday. He hasn’t been seen since.

“Definitely this is a big concern to us and to the province, we’re anxious to have the offender found,” said justice minister Diana Whalen.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Definitely this is a big concern to us and to the province, we're anxious to have the offender found," said justice minister Diana Whalen.

Pellerin has a lengthy criminal record, mostly consisting of break and enters.

“His convictions are property related offences, but obviously he fled and he doesn’t want to get caught, so let the police do what we get paid to do and notify us,” said Insp. Hearn.

The province’s justice minister says having an offender escape sheriff’s custody is unusual.

“This is really very rare, there are 25,000 transports a year that the sheriffs take and undertake and in that, this is the first time that we’ve this happen, certainly in my time as justice minister,” Whalen toldGlobal News.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "This is really very rare, there are 25,000 transports a year that the sheriffs take and undertake and in that, this is the first time that we've this happen, certainly in my time as justice minister," Whalen toldGlobal News.

New Brunswick Sheriff Services confirm sheriffs from Nova Scotia traveled to Shediac, N.B. to pick up Pellerin and were scheduled to bring him back to jail following his court appearance. A spokesperson says this is a common procedure between the two provinces.

READ MORE: Police looking for man who stole $8,000 in jewelry from Dartmouth store

One of the reasons why police issued a Canada-wide warrant for Pellerin is because he is originally from Sainte Marie de Kent, N.B., and there are concerns he may try to flee to another province.

Exactly how Pellerin was able to get out of his restraints is still unclear. No one from the province’s sheriff’s services was available Monday to answer questions or to discuss the state of their investigation.

Pellerin actually escaped from Halifax Regional Police custody back in May, but was quickly apprehended.

Some Truro-area residents are concerned that he remains loose, possibly in their community.

“It’s not the most pleasant thing. You kind of wonder if they might show up at your door, but it happens,” said Arden Whidden.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's not the most pleasant thing. You kind of wonder if they might show up at your door, but it happens," said Arden Whidden.

“I think that they really should have taken more precautions with him because they obviously said he wasn’t handcuffed or anything on him and he had escaped before so that should have been a sign,” added Brenda Works.

Truro Police are hoping by sharing Pellerin’s photo and keeping his case in the spotlight, they will be able to apprehend him.

Anyone with information about where Pellerin may be is asked to come forward.