The jail inmate who briefly escaped from King County’s Maleng Regional Justice Center Tuesday in Kent ran all the way from the fourth floor to get outside.
Kenneth William, in court to enter a plea for stealing a vehicle, ran from Courtroom 4H once his handcuffs were removed as he prepared to face the judge, according to a Wednesday email from William Hayes, county director of the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention.
County corrections officers pursued William, dressed in a jail red jumpsuit, but he exited the RJC before Kent Police caught him about five minutes later a few blocks down Fourth Avenue near West Meeker Street.
“We are thankful that no one was injured and especially thank the Kent Police for their assistance in this matter,” Hayes said.
The investigation into how William managed to get out of the building continues, Hayes said.
“We will evaluate our current practices and polices specific to this incident,” he said. “It is unknown if we will make any changes at this time.”
The RJC houses a county jail as well as King County Superior courts.
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