A prisoner in leg irons, clad only in a hospital gown and booties, fled Tuesday morning from Lancaster General Hospital into the city's northeast, officials said.

Ovett Ramos, 20, saw his chance when the Lancaster County Prison corrections officer guarding him neglected to shackle him to his hospital bed before taking a bathroom break, according to Associate Warden Robert Bodnar of the prison. The unarmed Ramos bolted down the hall, down four floors and out of the hospital about 11:30 a.m.

Outside, despite the leg irons, his skimpy attire and the below-freezing temperatures, Ramos was able to elude a manhunt involving at least a dozen city police, at least 10 prison officers, a K9 dog unit and a state police helicopter. He remained at large Tuesday night, officials said.

The officer guarding Ramos has been placed on unpaid leave pending an administrative review, Bodnar said.

Ramos was last sighted in the area of East Frederick and North Shippen streets shortly after he escaped, police said.

"It's highly unlikely he's still outdoors," city police spokesman Sgt. Todd Umstead said.

Temperatures stayed below 30 degrees Tuesday, and a low of 7 degrees was expected overnight, according to the National Weather Service.

Ramos has relatives and friends in the city and region. Police are trying through them to persuade the fugitive to turn himself in, Bodnar said.

Officials stressed that residents should not try to confront Ramos if they see him but should call 911 or city police.

Officers combed the path of Ramos' escape well into Tuesday afternoon, tracking snowy footprints and interviewing residents. They searched several businesses, parking lots and at least one vacant house in the city's Sixth Ward.

City police "will continue to look for this guy until we catch him," Umstead said.

There was some evidence Ramos was receiving assistance in hiding.

A woman who lives in the 300 block of Frederick Street said a teenage boy believed to be a relative of Ramos knocked on her door about 1:30 p.m. and asked for bolt cutters, which she didn't have.

The boy, whom she knew by the street name "Macho," said his bicycle was chained up, but she knew about the police search.

Another woman who lives on the block said she feared for her children's safety.

"I am really scared," she said.

City police initially arrested Ramos on Sunday on a bench warrant. He had failed to appear in court on a charge of receiving stolen property in connection with a vehicle allegedly taken in July 2008.

After processing Sunday, Ramos was transported to Lancaster County Prison.

Monday night, he was taken to Lancaster General Hospital for an MRI scan, Bodnar said. Due to federal privacy law, Bodnar could not give details of Ramos' medical condition.

Ramos was admitted in "fair" condition, hospital spokesman John Lines said. Like Bodnar, he was prohibited from giving further details.

By Tuesday morning, the MRI had been taken, and Ramos was awaiting the doctors' opinion in Room 4605 on the hospital's fourth floor, guarded by the corrections officer, Bodnar said. The prisoner's legs were shackled, but not his arms.

For some reason, the guard failed to secure Ramos to his bunk — which is standard procedure — before going to the men's room.

Ramos was gone when the guard returned. The officer immediately alerted his shift commander, Bodnar said. A call was made to 911 as well, and the search was on within minutes.

Lines referred questions about the incident to police and prison officials.

"We work with prison officials regarding how they wish to watch inmates while they're here," but hospital security personnel have no involvement in the guarding, he said.

At the time of his arrest Sunday, Ramos also was wanted by Manheim Township police, who had charged him with receiving stolen property, theft and forgery. On Jan. 7 Ramos tried to cash a $250 check that he stole from a Columbia woman, police said.

Police also said he was driving a car stolen from the same woman, according to newspaper records.

Ramos had not been convicted of crimes, only charged, but escaping when charged with felonies is itself a felony, police spokesman Umstead noted.

"Now he's got another felony that he's eventually going to have to answer to."

Ramos' last known address was in the 500 block of High Street.

County prison records give his town of origin as Columbia, but list him as "homeless." He is described by police as 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 185 pounds.

E-mail: tstuhldreher@lnpnews.com