Man arrested on drug charges flees courtroom and jumps off second-floor balcony in attempt to escape
Dramatic CCTV footage from a courtroom shows a defendant in handcuffs fleeing his own court case before karma caught up and he fell off the second-floor balcony.
35-year-old Christopher Clay Rudd tried to make a desperate dash for freedom when he fell two stories, breaking his leg and pelvis and fracturing his skull in the process. The incident took place at a courthouse in Spanish Fork, Utah.
It was reported that the police arrested Rudd for theft, possession of a dangerous weapon, and other drug-related charges, in April. According to Fox6 News, the man was waiting for his turn to appear before the judge to explain why he had not gone for his court-ordered rehab.
The short video of his daring escape attempt shows a bailiff trying to grab hold of him just as he nosedived over the second-floor railings. The incident took place just outside the courtroom he was set to appear in. Brave security guards at the bottom of the stairs tried desperately to catch the falling man before his body can be seen hitting the ground several feet from where he took off.
Three men rushed to his side to pin him down so that he doesn't have any more bright ideas of escaping but then they realized that he had been seriously injured in the fall. Blood splatter was seen on the ground where he fell as well as on his face.
Police spokesperson Matt Johnson said that it was not clear whether Rudd was trying to hurt himself on purpose but now that he tried to escape, he could be facing additional charges.
Court records have not listed a lawyer for the man.