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Man Caught On Tape Bolting From Courtroom

Suspect Leads Authorities On Chase Through County Courthouse

Updated: 6:44 pm MDT June 22, 2009

A man whose bond was denied last month bolted from an Oklahoma County courtroom, leading authorities on a chase across the building, deputies said.

Christopher Willis, 21, was in court on May 27 on charges of possessing a firearm while on supervised probation, KOCO-TV reported.

A sheriff's department spokesman said that when Willis realized he would be going to jail, he ran out of the courtroom and past the elevators with a deputy and Willis' attorney giving chase.

"He caused quite a commotion over at the Oklahoma County Courthouse," said Mark Meyers of the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office.

Surveillance video showed Willis running down a hallway, almost knocking a woman down.

A woman was spotted in the video blocking an elevator, which allowed another man to help tackle Willis.

Myers said the attempted escape took all of a minute.

"People need to realize that even in the worst-case scenario, if he got to the first floor, every exit is secure," Myers said. "You go through security in and out, so there's no way of getting out."

Myers said Willis will be charged with escape from custody.

His bond was set at $72,000.

Back in 2006, Willis had been on the Oklahoma County most-wanted list, Myers said.

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