5 minutes

Jon Smith

A criminal suspect made a daring getaway from a Washington County courthouse, according to surveillance video footage. The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Edi Villalobos, was arraigned on charges that he killed a Cornelius male with a knife two years ago and also stabbed a male in Clackamas County.

A camera captured a sheriff's deputy escorting Villalobos into the courtroom and taking off his handcuff and leg restraints, as required by Oregon law. But as soon as he was free, Villalobos made a run for it, bolting out the door and leaving the deputy in hot pursuit. Despite the deputy's efforts, Villalobos managed to outrun him and escape through a nearby door.

After his escape, Villalobos managed to evade the authorities for a few hours, but they eventually caught up with him hiding under a blanket in the wardrobe of a nearby flat.

That brazen escape raises questions about courthouse security and the protocols in place for transporting and handling dangerous criminals. While it's necessary to follow the law and remove restraints in court, it's clear that more needs to be done to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. Courthouses are meant to be secure locations where justice is served, but incidents like this show that even the most secure locations can be vulnerable to breaches.

It's important for law enforcement agencies to review their procedures and ensure that they have adequate safeguards in place to prevent dangerous criminals from escaping and endangering the public. "By taking proactive measures and implementing stricter security protocols, we can help ensure that courthouses remain safe places for all"- said expert.