SPANISH FORK, Utah, April 30, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A Utah County Jail inmate in handcuffs ran from a Spanish Fork Courtroom on Monday morning, and jumped over a banister, falling from the building’s second floor to the lobby below.
Christopher Clay Rudd, 35, was transported to the hospital with head injuries after the fall. His injuries are not considered life-threatening, a Spanish Fork Police spokesman said.
“He was transported from the Utah County Jail for a court appearance,” said Sgt. Lance Rudd, who added that he is not related to the inmate.
“He stood up from the jury box where they put them, and ran out the doors, and tried to leap over the banister.”
The inmate’s hands were cuffed in front of him with a chain around his waist, but his legs were not restricted, Rudd said.
The inmate fell one floor, but did not lose consciousness, the officer said. Rudd said he did not believe it was an escape attempt.
“He said his intent was to harm himself,” Rudd said.
Christopher Rudd, who has a history of arrests in Utah County, had been booked into jail Thursday on charges related to controlled substances, receiving stolen property and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person.
No one else was injured in the Monday incident.
