Serious questions arise after prisoner escapes Calgary courthouse
Posted Aug 25, 2017 7:05 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Serious questions are likely being asked within Alberta Justice now after a prisoner was able to escape his sentencing Thursday afternoon inside a Calgary courtroom.
According to officials, in what must seem like a Hollywood plot, the man at the centre of the ordeal somehow jumped over the prisoner’s box and made his way down a set of stairs and out an emergency exit to the street below.
He ran a block west of the building to 6 Street S.W. where he attempted to carjack a woman’s vehicle.
The woman refused to hand it over and fought him off until sheriffs and police officers could catch up with him, they tackled him to the ground and he was promptly returned to custody.
Most inside the court had no idea what was happening and those outside 24 hours later were just as surprised.
“I’m just sort of flabbergasted, you think that this happens in some big American city and now it happens in Calgary, when I grew up here you didn’t lock your days and things like this didn’t happen,” said Brenda. “it’s a mixed up crazy world these days.”
“Yes it’s a little surprising but the justice system can only do so much,” said Colin. “People in a mind state like that will do whatever they can to get away.”
“I figured they would have better security than that,” added Daniel, who felt the whole thing sounded more like a Hollywood plot.
A government official tells us a review will likely happen now as part of standard procedure.
Alberta Justice has yet to reveal the name of the prisoner at the centre of the ordeal.
