Man runs from 14B District Court building after being sentenced to jail
A man ran from 14B District Court in Ypsilanti Township this morning after a judge sentenced him to 90 days in jail for assault and battery, court officials said.
“The bailiff was going to take him to the back, and instead he just turned around and ran,” said Jackie McLain, a witness and court recorder. “He just got scared. He didn’t want to go to jail.”
Robert Taylor Brown, 19, is wanted for contempt of court, McLain said. Washtenaw County sheriff’s deputies are searching for Brown after the 10 a.m. incident at the building on South Huron River Drive, officials said.
The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department issued a news release at 3:17 p.m., which noted Brown has not been located.Judge Charles Pope gave Brown credit for 27 days of time served in the case, but Brown learned of another warrant for his arrest at the hearing, McLain said.
He fled out of courtroom #1, down a short hallway and out the door as the bailiff followed, McLain said.
There are no security officials stationed at the entrance and exits to the building, which contains two courtrooms, McLain said.
Between five and 10 people were in the courtroom, including Brown’s public defender and a prosecuting attorney, McLain said.
The bailiff, who carries a firearm, was the only court security official inside the courtroom, McLain said.
It's unclear where Brown went after he ran.Â
McLain, who has been a court recorder for 25 years, said she’s witnessed about five other such cases.
Brown, an Ypsilanti Township resident, was described as black, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 145 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing a white shirt and blue jeans, police said.
Anyone with information on Brown's whereabouts is asked to call Detective Everette Robbins at (734) 973-4884, the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s office tip line at (734) 973-7711 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
Comments
Rake2204
Thu, Oct 22, 2009 : 7:30 a.m.
"Maybe he read the earlier annarbor.com story about the top five places to run in Ann Arbor!" Gold. "It's unclear where Brown went after he ran.' Really? Is that why they haven't located him?" Exactly what I was thinking.
treetowncartel
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 11:22 p.m.
Bunny, that is the "Snoop Dog" look that he is kickin.
bunnyabbot
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 10:11 p.m.
this is stupid, he was sentanced to 90 days, given credit for 27, leaving 63 days to serve. He would likely be jail a few weeks before they got full and had to let him out early...now he will likely get more added on. If he manages to get out of the state and off the radar this will still come back to bite his butt later...is he stoned in the photo or is he permastoned?
Chris Goosman
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 9:39 p.m.
"It's unclear where Brown went after he ran." Really? Is that why they haven't located him?
sunshine_valentine
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 4:02 p.m.
They better improve the security at the other courts first. It's ridiculous to have three sheriff deputies sit around all day doing next to nothing. They rudely rummage through your belongings and shout out personal questions.
Mumbambu, Esq.
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 2:27 p.m.
Maybe he read the earlier annarbor.com story about the top five places to run in Ann Arbor!
sellers
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 2:25 p.m.
It's not a large enough crime to justify higher security - although it would make you feel a little uneasy if you are near that area.... Good luck!
dading dont delete me bro
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 1:52 p.m.
assault and battery isn't a big deal i guess if it were your neighborhood nearby?
djm12652
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 1:20 p.m.
Guess the perp didn't like his living conditions before, could it be the food? Or the company? But he sure did run like he stole something...
fosho09
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 1:17 p.m.
Do you need your neighborhood to be notified that he committed Assault & Battery? It sounds like he only had about two months in jail...that's not worth running from. The other warrant must be a lot worse.
dading dont delete me bro
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 1:08 p.m.
so is this clown still on the loose? if he is, shouldn't neighborhood watch's be notified...? or is that too much to ask?
djm12652
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 1:06 p.m.
Well, if I ever turn to a life of crime, I hope my hearing is at that facility...and I don't have to be the fastest runner...just faster than them...
Wolverine3660
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 12:38 p.m.
Looks l ike itis time to improve security at this Court House. And maybe, the Sheriff's Dept ought to enforce physical fitness standards for the Deputies who work in the Court Houses and at the Jail.