Escapee Tries to Jump Through a Bulletproof Courthouse Window

**kellyhound** · #1 01-24-2010, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Travis Copeland, 19, bolted out of a Lake County felony courtroom Wednesday, ran down the courthouse skyway that crosses Washington Street and tried to shoulder-slam his way through a second-floor window.

A security camera captured the attempted escape and shows Copeland bounce against the bulletproof glass in his failed getaway.

About half a dozen Lake County sheriff's deputies surrounded him with weapons drawn and brought him back to jail.

"Usually, incidents happen in the one dead spot where the cameras don't get it. This time, the camera got it," said Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. Bill Werner.

Attempted getaways are uncommon, Werner said, adding that this was the first such incident that he was aware of in the past year.

Werner said he has heard of some runaways making it all the way outside, but he said he did not remember anyone who actually escaped.

People are taken into custody on a daily basis all over the courthouse, he said. Unless warned in advance that they are a flight risk, the individual being taken to jail is handcuffed outside of the courtroom.

Copeland was not listed as a flight risk.

Copeland was in court for violating a bond condition, Werner said. When he was told he was going to jail, he tried to escape.

He was brought back to court and is now being held in lieu of $1.5 million bond, Werner said.

Copeland was charged with disorderly conduct and aggravated battery of an officer, according to court files.

Additional charges are expected to be filed against him.