This morning inside the Sonoma County Superior Courthouse inmate John Pote was before Judge Medvigy in department 4. Pote is a 37 year old transient from Santa Rosa area. He had been in-custody since last Thursday, February 4th, after being arrested by Santa Rosa Police Department for five outstanding misdemeanor warrants.
Pote became upset with the proceedings and fled from the courtroom. Personnel inside the courtroom activated the emergency alarm, which sends an alert to Sheriff’s dispatch. Pote took off running with a Deputy at his heels yelling commands to stop. Other Deputies in the courthouse heard the commotion and the request for assistance over the radio. Pote was detained momentarily near the DA’s Office, but physically resisted and broke free.
Pote ran straight toward another Deputy who yelled commands at him. When Pote did not stop, the Deputy used a taser to gain his compliance. The taser worked and he stopped his escape attempt. Pote was successfully controlled, returned to inmate processing area of the courthouse and the jail medical personnel attended to him.
Pote was uninjured and returned to MADF. He was booked with additional charge of escape, a felony. No Deputies or other people were injured in the incident.
Case # 160208-007
Prepared by Sergeant Cecile Focha
Media Relations / PIO
