ON THE LOOSE: Moped chase suspect escapes police custody by walking out of Bronx hospital in blue gown

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – The NYPD is searching for a police pursuit suspect who escaped custody Thursday afternoon by walking out of a Bronx hospital while wearing a gown.

Jose Lopez, 37, of the Bronx, somehow slipped out of his sixth-floor room at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in Mott Haven.

A surveillance photo released by the NYPD shows him wearing a blue hospital gown around the time of the brazen escape just before 12 p.m.

Heavily armed police searched the area around the hospital with canines Thursday afternoon, but he was nowhere to be found.

He was being treated at the hospital after allegedly driving a moped on a sidewalk and crashing into another vehicle while fleeing police in the Concourse section on the afternoon of Aug. 29.

He faces a long list of charges for the wild pursuit, including reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless endangerment and obstruction of governmental administration, among others counts.

He pleaded not guilty during a virtual appearance before a judge Thursday morning, shortly before the escape, the New York Post reported . Bail was set at $1.

He's described as being 5 feet, 11 inches tall and 170 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.