MPD looking for prisoner after he escaped from Southeast DC hospital

WASHINGTON ( DC News Now ) — The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is looking for a man who escaped from officers at a hospital in Southeast D.C. on Sunday.

Police said that at around 12:30 a.m., officers transported an arrestee to United Medical Center in Southeast for treatment.

When they arrived, the arrestee, identified as 27-year-old Derrick Ross-Simms of Southeast, D.C., escaped from officers, fleeing on foot.

He was last seen in the 1300 block of Southern Ave. in Southeast, according to MPD.

Police said that Ross-Simms was previously arrested and charged with Carrying a Pistol Without a License and Possession of a Controlled Substance. He is wanted on a DC Superior Court arrest warrant for Escape.

Despite Ross-Simms escaping early Sunday morning, MPD did not alert the public of his escape for several hours.

In response to why the notification did not go out until Sunday afternoon, MPD told DC News Now the following:

Our office was notified this morning of the escape. During that time the release had to go through an approval process.

Sorry for the inconvenience

The Metropolitan Police Department, Officer Major

MPD said that anyone with information should call police at (202) 727-9099 or text a tip to 50411.

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