SOUTH MIAMI, Fla. --
Police are searching for a jail inmate who stole an SUV and escaped after being transported to a South Miami hospital for an injury.
According to police, Elie Bensimon, 46, a Miami-Dade County Jail inmate, was transported to Larkin Community Hospital at about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday for a leg injury.
He went in for a leg X-ray, according to police, but never made it to see a doctor.
"Then they told us that he was no longer going to be coming in because he hijacked a car and took off," said Dr. Tim McCoy, who was scheduled to treat him.
Police said Bensimon pushed away the security guard who had driven him to Larkin and got into the driver's seat of his company-issued SUV.
Investigators said Bensimon's hands were cuffed in front of him, which allowed him to grab the steering wheel.
He drove away from the hospital. Police soon swarmed the parking lot.
"They were following him," said ambulance driver Jose Perdomo.
Bensimon's next stop, according to police, was Dadeland Mall. He went to a Sunglass Hut, where he asked to use the phone.
A Sunglass Hut employee told Local 10 that Bensimon was no longer wearing handcuffs and was acting nervous.
Bensimon left the mall, and as of late Tuesday, has not been spotted by police.
Bensimon had been arrested on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, armed burglary of an occupied residence, petit theft and criminal mischief. Police continue to search for Bensimon and the SUV.
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