Prison escapee Arthur Buckel reportedly has been apprehended, according to an alert from the Ocean County Sheriff's Office, supplemented by information from county Prosecutor Joseph Coronato's office.

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Buckel was taken into custody without incident near Parkway milepost 76.6 IN Lacey Township, on the northbound side, not far from the spot where he had agreed to turn himself in but failed to appear earlier.

Unconfirmed sources said that a Lacey Township police sergeant, acting on a report by a passerby of someone in nearby woods, encountered Buckel and held him until New Jersey Department of Corrections (DOC) authorities arrived.

Buckel spent a week on the run, after deserting the Ancora extension of Bayside State Prison in Hammonton, where he had been set for parole later this month.

He was placed in the custody of New Jersey Department of Corrections (DOC) officers on site. DOC officials offered a prepared statement, which indicates that Buckel will undergo questioning regarding his escape from Ancora.

The DOC's full statement:

"Commissioner Gary M. Lanigan thanked residents and law enforcement agencies who assisted the New Jersey Department of Corrections in a joint investigation that resulted in today’s apprehension of Arthur Buckel, who last week escaped from a minimum security unit.

'The apprehension of inmate Buckel would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of several law enforcement agencies involved, including various units of the New Jersey Department of Corrections, the New Jersey State Police, the United States Marshal Service and several local law enforcement agencies ' Commissioner Lanigan said. 'It’s through this level of cooperation and teamwork that positive results can be achieved. I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you.'

Commissioner Lanigan also expressed his appreciation to residents for being patient throughout the investigation, many of whom had to adjust their daily routines and way of life in order for the investigation to proceed. He wanted to give special thanks to residents who provided information that eventually lead to inmate Buckel’s apprehension.

Inmate Buckel, 38, was unaccounted for following an early morning bed check on May 3 at Ancora, a full minimum security satellite unit of Bayside State Prison located in Hammonton (no affiliation to the psychiatric hospital of the same name). Escape protocol was initiated, during which all appropriate notifications were made.

Following up on several leads provided to various agencies, inmate Buckel was apprehended on Monday, May 9, in Lacey Township.

Inmate Buckel had been serving a sentence for burglary and theft. Because of his actions, inmate Buckel could receive an additional 3 to 5 years of incarceration for the escape charge and he could receive additional criminal charges for his activities while he was a fugitive.

Inmate Buckel is in NJDOC custody and will be evaluated by the department’s medical unit and placed in a secure facility. He will then be interviewed by the department’s Special Investigation Division to determine the circumstances that led up to the escape."

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