A Buffalo man who fancied himself an escape artist might not be able to evade police from prison.

In December, Randy Schindler, 29, went to his girlfriend’s apartment. She didn’t answer the door, so he tried to get inside by punching through several windows in the downstairs neighbor’s apartment.

Police found him a short time later and drove him to ECMC to be treated for injuries to his hands. When nurses asked that his handcuffs be removed in order to take care of him, Schindler seized an opportunity and tried escaping by jumping up through ceiling tiles.

It wasn’t until the following morning that he was recaptured as he attempted to leave the hospital, where officers were waiting for him to emerge.

Schindler pleaded guilty to attempted burglary, criminal mischief and escape and was sentenced to four years in prison, followed by five years post-release supervison. He also has to pay more than $6,200 to ECMC, his girlfriend’s downstairs neighbor and the property owner for the damage he caused.