A 19-year-old man with a lengthy criminal record allegedly assaulted a police officer and briefly escaped from the Tewksbury Police Headquarters Sunday afternoon.

Robert Gorski, of 140 Mount Vernon St., escaped out the back of the station during a shift change just after 4 p.m. He was captured less than an hour behind the North Street Elementary School thanks to the efforts of a K-9 unit.

According to the police report, the incident began Sunday afternoon when Gorski plugged the toilet in his cell with toilet paper, causing it to overflow. That particular cell has no video surveillance. When Lt. Chip McKenna went to move Gorski into another cell that does have video surveillance when Gorski grabbed him, spun him around and shoved him into the cell.

Gorski then took off out the back door of the station and into the woods, wearing nothing but his boxers. All available officers on duty participated in the search and Wilmington sent officers to assist as well.

A Woodland Avenue resident called police at 4:25 p.m. to report having seen a man matching Gorski's description running in that neighborhood. Sgt. Tim Kelly, along with his K-9, Ali, spotted Gorski darting behind the North Street School and Kelly reported having Gorski in custody at 4:46 p.m.

Gorski reported pain in his arm following his arrest and was taken by ambulance to Saints Medical Center in Lowell for treatment, accompanied by officers Albert Piccolo and John Casey. According to the police report, Gorski made threats against the two officers while a the hospital.

Gorski had been originally taken into custody Friday night on five outstanding default warrants from Lowell District Court. He is well -known to Tewksbury Police, with a record of several arrests, including assault and breaking sand entering dating back more than two years.

In addition to the warrants, Gorski is now being charged with assault and battery on a police officer, escape from a municipal lockup and malicious and wanton defacement of property.

He was scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Lowell District Court.