Career criminal Jose Lopez, 37, has managed to slip away from police custody during a hospital stay at NYC Health and Hospitals/Lincoln in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx.

According to a report, the escape occurred around 11:52 a.m. on Thursday, shortly after Lopez was arraigned from his hospital bed on a series of serious charges.

Just 20 minutes prior to his escape, Lopez faced a Bronx judge following his arrest for allegedly speeding and crashing a motorcycle while fleeing from police on August 29. When officers finally apprehended him on Gerard Avenue and East 150th Street, he was found in possession of illegal drugs, according to the NYPD.

Despite the severity of his charges, which include robbery, burglary, and drug offenses, Lopez pleaded not guilty during his arraignment, where Bronx judge Daniel Lewis controversially set his bail at a mere $1.

This lenient ruling has raised eyebrows given Lopez’s extensive criminal history, which includes 16 arrests since 2008.

Following his audacious escape, police and K-9 units flooded the area surrounding the hospital in a frantic search for Lopez, intensifying their efforts to recapture the fugitive.

The incident underscores serious concerns about the handling of dangerous individuals in custody and the broader implications for public safety in the city.