Inmate walks out of Las Vegas courtroom
A female inmate briefly escaped from a courtroom Monday morning at the Regional Justice Center.
Restrained by waist chains in a jury box, Sarah Morrison, 26, pushed open a back door of Courtroom 7D and stepped into a “restricted area” to which only court officials have access, according to court records and a court spokeswoman.
Court records stated that Morrison, who faces a misdemeanor petit larceny charge, “left the courtroom” and “was located” on the ground floor of the 17-story building.
Just opposite the door Morrison opened sits an elevator used by judges and court staff.
Las Vegas police received a call about a “possible escapee” at 8:49 a.m., and the call was “cleared” at 9:04 a.m., according to police spokesman Michael Rodriguez.
“Her attempt was quickly thwarted by a marshal without incident,” Clark County District Court spokeswoman Mary Ann Price said in an email. “There were no injuries or damages reported. An investigation is ongoing.”
A total of 10 inmates, including four women, were scheduled for in-custody appearances Monday morning before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Pro Tem Holly Stoberski.
The escape occurred before Stoberski had taken the bench, according to court officials.
Morrison, who is being held on $1,000 bail, is scheduled to return to court Tuesday.
Review-Journal writer Kimber Laux contributed to this report. Contact David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find @randompoker on Twitter.
