TRURO, N.S. - Police in Nova Scotia searching for a man they say escaped custody while being transferred to a sheriff's van in the parking lot of the Truro Justice Centre.

Nova Scotia justice officials say Marc Joseph Pellerin, 43, was awaiting a court appearance on a variety of charges, including theft of a motor vehicle, theft over $5,000, break and enter, possession of stolen property, evading police, unsafe storage of a firearm and resisting arrest.

The Moncton man was being transferred from Shediac Jail in New Brunswick to Halifax for a Monday court appearance.

Authorities say Pellerin had previously escaped a police vehicle in May.

Fred Hildebrand, of Nova Scotia's Department of Justice says Truro Police, the RCMP and Sheriff Services are searching for the subject.