The US Marshals captured Alleem Borden, a suspected car thief who escaped from a Philly hospital. US Marshals Fugitive Task Force Supervisory Deputy Robert Clark how they captured Borden in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
A car theft suspect who escaped from a Philadelphia hospital while handcuffed and jumped down a 30-foot embankment while fleeing US Marshals was captured in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, officials said.
US Marshals Fugitive Task Force Supervisory Deputy Robert Clark announced Thursday that 29-year-old Alleem Borden was arrested and revealed how he was captured during an afternoon press conference.
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How Alleem Borden escaped
The ordeal began on Thursday, Feb. 22, when a delivery driver's car was stolen in Philadelphia, Police Deputy Commissioner for Investigations Frank Vanore said.
Borden was then arrested on Sunday, Feb. 25, after he was found sleeping in the stolen vehicle when it was recovered on the 1100 block of Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia's Fishtown neighborhood, according to police.
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On Feb. 26, at 4:40 a.m., Borden was taken to Temple University Hospital's Episcopal Campus on the 100 block of E. Lehigh Avenue after complaining of pain, Clark said.
As he was being discharged at 6:42 a.m. that morning, Borden fled from officers while still in handcuffs, investigators said.
Surveillance footage captured Borden running from the hospital and entering a gas station.
Vanore said Borden was wearing the same blue plaid shirt seen in his mugshot at the time of his escape. You see that shirt in both the photo shared by police and the video that shows him moments after the escape.
At 6:58 a.m. that morning, Borden was captured on surveillance video walking onto the 2700 block of Hope Street and entering a home, Clark said.
At 7:11 a.m., Borden exited the same home while still in handcuffs, according to officials. He then entered a gold Hyundai that was driven off the block, Clark said.
A warrant was then obtained that night by the Philadelphia Police Department's East Detective Division charging Borden with escape.
How Alleem Borden eluded US Marshals
On the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 27, the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force was delegated the escape warrant. After a review of Borden's criminal history and a review of all the existing evidence, investigators determined Borden often frequented the area of the 5300 block of West Columbia Avenue in West Philadelphia.
At 3:15 p.m. that afternoon, about 10 US Marshals approached a home on Columbia Avenue, knocked and announced their presence. That's when a man -- later identified as Borden -- immediately ran out of the home and jumped down a 30-foot embankment onto SEPTA train tracks below, according to Clark. He then ran north on the tracks and investigators were unable to catch him, officials said.
Clark said it was raining hard at the time of the incident.
“Raining hard. Cloud cover. And the embankment that he jumped down, we had investigators there, but it wasn’t worth their safety to jump down that embankment," Clark said. "He’s a desperate man so I clearly see why he tried to escape and jump down to the train tracks but it just wasn’t worth the safety of any of my officers to take that jump and try to pursue him.”
Investigators said Borden was then picked up by "two known Philadelphia associates" that night who drove him to Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
How Alleem Borden was captured
After receiving tips and analyzing Borden's criminal record, US Marshals determined that he was likely somewhere in western Pennsylvania.
"Borden has previous criminal history in Cambria County so the possibility of Borden fleeing to western Pennsylvania was already being proactively investigated by members of our task force," Clark said.
On Thursday at 11:15 a.m., US Marshals surrounded an apartment complex on Wagner Street in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where they believed Borden was hiding. While he was not there at the time, investigators later determined Borden had stayed at the complex from Tuesday night until 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
Borden then reached out to another woman with ties to Philadelphia who lived on David Street in Johnstown, Clark said.
At 2 p.m. Thursday, US Marshals, Johnstown Police, members of the Cambria County Sheriff's Office and Pennsylvania State Police troopers surrounded the home on David Street, knocked and announced their presence, Clark said.
A woman then answered the door, confirmed Borden was there and allowed the marshals, officers and troopers to enter, according to Clark.
The investigators then found Borden hiding in a crawlspace in the attic of the home, Clark said. Marshals forcibly removed Borden from the attic and placed him into custody, according to Clark.
Borden was transported to the Cambria County Prison and is awaiting extradition back to Philadelphia. Clark said he will be charged with escape.
Clark also said officials are working to decide if the two associates who drove Borden from Philadelphia to Johnstown will face charges as well.
Alleem Borden's criminal history
Prior to Borden's arrest, Clark said there were concerns that Borden was possibly armed. When Borden was taken into custody on Thursday he was not in possession of any weapons however, according to Clark.
Clark said Borden had a history of fleeing and eluding police as well as possible mental health issues and problems with drug abuse.
Borden has also had several previous run-ins with the law, including a guilty plea to resisting arrest and flight to avoid apprehension in 2020, according to online court records.
Online court records do not name a specific public defender who could comment on Borden's escape.
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