UPDATED: Police have arrested Lazarus Bara Bara, 29, after he escaped from the Darwin Police Station at some point on Tuesday, which set off a days-long manhunt that saw police fail to issue a description until the day after the escape, while warning the public not to approach him, and then providing seemingly false information that he was headed to Adelaide River in the back of a ute.

Police said in a statement on Thursday at 9:38am that Bara Bara was “arrested a short time ago in Casuarina after a foot pursuit”.

Territory Duty Superintendent Troy Stephens announced the escape in a statement at 3:45pm Tuesday, in which he said “a short time ago” three men, aged 18, 23, and 29, had absconded from NT Corrections custody at the Darwin Police Station on Knuckey Street, in the Darwin CBD.

He did not explain how the men had broken out and police did not release a description of Bara Bara at that time.

On Wednesday morning, police media finally released the name of the prisoner and a photo. It was unclear why it was not released on Tuesday when the first media release was issued about the escape from custody.

Police said on Wednesday that he was “last seen jumping into the tray of a ute and is believed to have travelled south of Darwin towards Adelaide River”.

They did not explain on Thursday how he came to be apprehended in Casuarina or why they would release seemingly false information about his presumed whereabouts.

Police said he was serving time for property damage offences.

Supt Stephens warned members of the public not to approach him but to call police on 131 444 or report in anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

NT Police thanked the public for assisting in locating Bara Bara.

NOTE: This story was edited twice to update the status of the hunt for the escapee.