Sonoma County Jail inmate runs from courtroom in brief break for freedom

Making a dash for freedom, a Sonoma County Jail inmate bolted from a courtroom early Monday and ran the length of one long hallway before being stopped by a deputy and a Taser stun gun, according to a Sonoma County sheriff’s official.

Suspect John Gradin Pote, 37, ran out of courtroom 4 at about 9:15 a.m., sheriff’s Sgt. Cecile Focha said.

The man had been sitting, awaiting an arraignment hearing on misdemeanor charges before Judge Gary Medvigy, when he reportedly jumped up, vaulted a low railing separating the judge, attorneys and inmates from the courtroom audience and sprinted for the door.

Bailiffs in the courtroom gave chase and yelled for the man to stop, and someone in the courtroom activated an emergency alarm, alerting other deputies in the courthouse, Focha said.

Pote’s flight lasted less than a minute. He’d made it down one corridor and had rounded the corner near the District Attorney’s Office when he was caught by a deputy, but then struggled free and began to run again.

After a few steps another deputy in his path ordered him to stop. Focha said the man ignored the warning and was struck with the electric Taser barb, ending the chase.

Pote never was close to actually getting clear of the building. He still was a long corridor away from stairs leading to an exit, but other deputies were headed his way and at the bottom of the stairs were at least three security officers.

Deputies arrested the man on suspicion of escape from custody and he was returned to the jail, where he was cleared of any medical issues from the electrical shock, Focha said. He’s now being held without bail on the suspected felony escape charge.

The unusual dash for freedom came at a busy time. The courthouse typically is bustling Monday mornings with courtroom hearings for people arrested late the prior week and during the weekend. Focha said no one was injured and proceedings continued as usual.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.