Headquarters shortly before he was to enter an identification parade.

Michael Cleveland Gibbons escaped from Police custody around 4 p.m. on Friday by climbing through a window as he was being escorted to enter the line-up.

He apparently escaped when an officer was distracted at a nearby pay phone after Gibbons asked that his lawyer be present during the parade.

A Police spokeswoman said yesterday that "active inquiries are underway''.