Inmate escapes from prison unit at Ancora

WINSLOW - An inmate less than a month away from parole eligibility escaped from a prison unit here, according to state officials. 

The man was reported missing from the Bayside State Prison unit at Ancora Psychiatric Hospital this morning, according to the Winslow Township Police Department.

ANCORA ESCAPE: Man walks away from prison unit

Arthur Buckel, 38, is described as white, 5 feet 9 inches tall and about 180 pounds. He has light blue eyes and a mustache and beard, according to the state Department of Corrections.

Buckel has facial hair and a small tattoo under his left eye. Officials say it's not clear what clothing Buckel was wearing at the time he escaped.

Corrections spokesman Matt Schuman said Buckel was discovered missing during a head count about 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The Bayside unit is a prison facility on the grounds of Ancora, but the two are different entities.

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The inmate, originally from Clifton, was in jail for aggravated assault, burglary and drug offenses, officials said.

Buckel was eligible for parole on May 21, according to state information, and had a maximum release date of Nov. 21, 2017. He was incarcerated on Nov. 21, 2015.

Schuman said Buckel could face an additional three to five years in prison once he's recaptured.

Officials urge anybody with information about Buckel or the escape to call 9-1-1.

"Is he dangerous? On the one hand, he is a minimum-custody inmate," Schuman said. "But he is an escaped inmate at this point."

The last inmate to escape the Bayside unit at Ancora was captured a few hours later.

Panagioti Souris was found in Philadelphia after fleeing the prison unit on Oct. 24.