DOVER – Authorities have launched an intense manhunt for convicted hostage-taker Leeland Eisenberg after he cut off his monitoring anklet and ran off this morning, less than a day after getting out of the county jail.

EISENBERG

Strafford County Sheriff Capt. Joseph DiGregorio said police are concerned Eisenberg may do something drastic because he bought duct tape and scouring pads at a local store this morning. In November 2007, Eisenberg used duct tape to secure road flares to his chest and took several hostages at Hillary Clinton's campaign office in Rochester before surrendering hours later.

"We're fearful he might go up to Rochester and pull another stunt like he did in 2007," DiGregorio said. "We have no idea if he's going to try and pull another fake hostage situation or what."

He added: "We're starting to get concerned about the public's safety because if he goes in and tries to create another situation like he did in 2007 then we would have a huge disruption."

Eisenberg performed his required breathalyzer test around 8 this morning and cut off both of his two monitoring anklets at about 10:10 this morning, sending an alarm to probation officials, who sent police to his apartment on Lincoln Street. Officers found the cut anklet and Eisenberg's medication, which is used to treat his mental health.

Eisenberg was last seen on Chestnut Street getting into a green SUV driven by a woman at about 10:30, state Department of Corrections spokesman Jeff Lyons said. Authorities do not have a plate number for the SUV or a description of the female driver, Lyons said.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Eisenberg, DiGregorio said.

Sheriffs, corrections officers, police and investigators with the county attorney's office are all searching for Eisenberg, DiGregorio said.

Judge Kenneth Brown released Eisenberg from jail yesterday after he admitted to three separate probation violations. He has been in and out of jail twice since he was released from state prison in November after serving two years for the hostage taking incident.

He was arrested soon after his initial release when he failed to charge his GPS monitor and then released afterward only to be jailed again last month when he failed to take a breathalyzer test on time. He was hit with a third probation violation after he failed to take his medications while in jail this most recent time.

Anyone with information about Eisenberg's whereabouts can call their local police department or the Dover District probation and parole office at 742-6621.

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