Suspect who pulled daring escape from police HQ remains free

Inquirer staff writer Sam Wood reports:

A Kensington man remains on the lam this morning after a daring escape late yesterday afternoon from police headquarters.

Hector Gomez, 28, is an accused car thief who was in custody yesterday when he told police he had information about a killing. Gomez was escorted to an interview room where he was left unattended.

Like a character out of Mission: Impossible, Gomez punched a hole in the ceiling, shimmied through an air vent, and dropped down into a hallway before walking out the front doors of the Police Department headquarters at Eighth and Race Streets.

Gomez, who lives on the 3300 block of Kip Street, has tattoos on his arms and finger and 15 prior arrests on a variety of theft and drug charges.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or 215 686-TIPS

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