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HAY RIVER - An escaped inmate in Hay River got a brief taste of freedom last week, along with a taste of alcohol.

On Oct. 23, the RCMP was advised by the minimum-security South Mackenzie Correctional Centre (SMCC) that an inmate - identified as Steven Ross Kigiuna, 23, of Kugluktuk, Nunavut - had escaped by scaling a fence at about 10:45 p.m.

A11:30 p.m. the police were notified by an off-duty SMCC guard that he had located the escapee on McBryan Drive.

Police took the man into custody without incident.

Kigiuna has been charged with being unlawfully at large, break and enter at the Hay River Liquor Store, and breach of probation.

Cpl. Ron Prangnell of the RCMP said the escapee smashed a window at the liquor store, reached in and took a couple of bottles of liquor from a display.

The man was carrying the bottles when he was arrested, Prangnell said. "I think that he had consumed some of it, from my understanding."

The inmate is not that familiar with Hay River and he didn't head straight to the liquor store after escaping, the corporal said. "I think he took a general direction and that's where it led him."

His goal was apparently to get to Yellowknife.

Prangnell said the inmate was taken to a more secure area at the SMCC after his capture and will be moved to Yellowknife this week.