WA: Port Hedland escapee on the run

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WA: Port Hedland escapee on the run

PERTH, Aug 5 AAP - A detainee from the Port Hedland immigration centre in Western Australiais still at large after escaping on Friday while visiting a dentist in the town.

Despite three days of searching, police say they have no idea of the whereabouts ofthe detainee, a 37-year-old man of Middle Eastern origin who escaped from a security guardassigned to him for the dental trip.

"He just disappeared," said South Hedland police Sergeant Colin Hush.

Road blocks set up between Port Hedland and South Hedland on Friday uncovered no leads,and a search of shopping centres and bushland with vehicles and foot patrols were unsuccessful.

Police said it was too early to even speculate on whether the man had outside helpto escape or whether anyone was hiding him.

"All we know is he had one guard with him and whilst there he took off. As soon aswe were advised we dispatched a vehicle to look for him," Sergeant Hush said.

"We liaised with ACM (Australian Correctional Management) trying to get a bit of intelligenceas to where he could be, who might help him, and came up with a negative result.

"I really can't speculate at this stage whether someone helped him get away from Port Hedland.

"I suppose you can really hide if someone's helping you. It's not a little town, assome people think."

An immigration department spokeswoman said the department was investigating the circumstancesof the escape.

AAP sd/tdw/jmd/bwl

KEYWORD: DETENTION ESCAPEE