MIAMI – A suspect is in custody after he fled from the Miami-Dade County courthouse Tuesday morning, police said.
Yakevis Jones was in courtroom 2-2 for a probation hearing when Judge Dennis Murphy ordered that he be sent to jail, Miami-Dade police Detective Daniel Ferrin said.
Jones, who wasn't wearing handcuffs, jumped out of the jury box and ran past police, down a flight of stairs and out of the courthouse.
The 21-year-old man didn't get far, though. Jones was taken into custody near the state attorney's office building near Northwest 12th Avenue and Northwest 14th Street.
Court records show that Jones was convicted last year of robbery with a deadly weapon and dealing in stolen property. He was on probation, but the state filed a violation of probation motion last month.
A similar incident took place in July at the Broward County courthouse, when murder suspect Dayonte Resiles broke free from his shackles and escaped. He was caught a few days later at a motel in West Palm Beach.