Police searching for escapee

HIALEAH, Fla. (WSVN) -- Officials are searching for a prisoner who escaped from a prison work facility.

Miami-Dade Corrections, Hialeah Police and Miami-Dade Police are searching for an escapee in the area of Northwest 62nd Avenue and 138th Street in Miami Lakes. Authorities said the suspect fled into Hialeah.

The Florida Department of Corrections has confirmed the identity of that escapee as 27-year-old Juan Preval. The suspect has been described as standing 5 feet 8 inches tall with a short fade hair cut. The suspect also has tattoos on his neck and a teardrop tattoo under his eye. Authorities said the suspect was doing time for burglary.

According to authorities, the Department of Corrections had a group of road gang members doing work along the entrance ramp to Gratigny Parkway when one inmate, who was in shackles, fled the area.

Police are shutting down the area. The ramp to the Gratigny westbound is closed at 57th Avenue, and north of 138th Street is also closed.

A police helicopter and K-9 dogs are also searching the area for the suspect.

(Copyright 2012 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)