Murder suspect Dayonte Resiles, 21, is on the loose after escaping police custody at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale.
The escape occurred at 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 15, when Resiles jumped out of a jury room inside the courthouse and fled. He had broken out of his shackles and handcuffs, and left his jumpsuit on the ground in the hallway, said WPTV.
“We were in Judge Singhal’s courtroom, he was calling the docket, and one of the inmates bolted out of the jury space where the inmates who are in custody wait,” attorney Jim Lewis said in an account of the escape to CBS Miami. “He pushed open the door very violently, apparently he had slipped both his cuffs and his ankle shackles. One of the deputies had him just barely by the clothing in the back, but he slipped away. One of prosecutors in the courtroom who I think is actually pregnant was hurt. The inmate pushed the door open so violently hard it pushed her back. He then went down to the end of the floor and we didn’t see him again.”
It is still unknown how Resiles shed his handcuffs and leg shackles.
Resiles is suspected of murder after breaking into a home in an upscale gated community and allegedly killing 59-year-old Halliburton Su, who was found in her bathtub with multiple stab wounds.
Following Resiles’ escape, the courthouse was immediately placed on lockdown and Fort Lauderdale police assisted Broward Sheriff’s officers in scouting the surrounding area.
The Sun Sentinel reported that police were looking in boats in nearby canals while three helicopters searched the area.
“We will do everything we can to bring him back into custody safely, quickly, and efficiently,” Broward Sheriff Scott Israel said at a news conference Friday afternoon.
Resiles was wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts at the time of escape according to the Broward Sheriff’s office.
