Original Blog Entry: Man flees security at courthouse only to run into...

truesee — Thu, 12 May 2011 02:18:50 GMT

Man flees from deputies at RI County Courthouse

Dustin Lemmon

The Quad-City Times

Wednesday, May 11, 2011 8:06 pm

Rock Island County deputies clean up a mess created by a man who fled from security at the courthouse this morning. The man slammed into two glass doors as he wrestled with court staff while trying to exit the building.

(Dustin Lemmon/Quad-City Times)

A man who fled security Wednesday at the Rock Island County Courthouse slammed into two large glass doors as he tried to get away and suffered significant injuries.

Demetrius C. Bateman, 25, was apprehended after a foot chase near the foot of the Centennial Bridge, Rock Island County Sheriff Jeff Boyd said.

Bateman was in court for a misdemeanor hearing when deputies went to arrest him on a warrant for failure to appear for a driving while revoked charge, the sheriff said.

Boyd said the suspect fled the courtroom and slammed into large glass exit doors on the west side of the courthouse. Boyd said Bateman apparently didn t hit the bar to release the door and suffered severe cuts.

Rock Island County Sheriff s Sgt. Mark Biscontine and Bailiff Russ Griffin caught up to Bateman at the courthouse exit, but he managed to get away. They continued to chase him until they caught him near the bridge, Boyd said.

Large holes and cracks were left in the two exit doors. Shortly after the incident, deputies were on the scene breaking out the remaining glass and sweeping up the mess.

Boyd said the deputy and bailiff suffered cuts and abrasions, and the bailiff might have broken a finger. They were being treated at an area hospital.

Meanwhile, Bateman underwent surgery at the hospital, the sheriff said, but his injuries were not considered life-threatening. He was to be taken into custody once released.

Boyd said the sheriff s department is seeking two counts of aggravated battery and a charge of criminal damage to property against Bateman in connection with the incident.

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