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Man ordered detained after escaping custody in courtroom in suburban Chicago, prosecutors say

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CBS News Chicago Live

WHEATON, Ill. (CBS) -- A Cicero man was ordered detained after authorities said he escaped from a courtroom deputy in DuPage County right after a court appearance, prosecutors announced Saturday.

Javier Barajas, 23, was first arrested on May 23, on charges of aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle and aggravated fleeing and eluding. Prosecutors from the DuPage County State's Attorney's office did not specify further information about this alleged crime or where in DuPage County it happened.

Prosecutors wanted Barajas detained until trial, but DuPage County Judge Joshua Dieden denied that motion.

This past Tuesday, while on pretrial release, Barajas was hit with new charges of aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle over $25,000. This charge was not detainable under the law, so on Wednesday, Barajas was released again, prosecutors said.

On Thursday, prosecutors filed a motion to revoke Barajas' pretrial release, on the grounds that he had violated the conditions of his pretrial release from his first case. Barajas appeared in court on Thursday, and Judge Joseph Bugos ordered him detained.

Barajas' was immediately taken into custody by a DuPage County Sheriff's deputy. But while the deputy was doing paperwork, Barajas slipped out of his handcuffs, walked out of the courtroom, ran down the hallway and down the escalators, and made it to the lobby of the courthouse, prosecutors said.

At that point, Barajas tried to run back up the escalator again, only for multiple deputies to apprehend him, prosecutors said. Barajas resisted arrest and refused to put his hands behind his back, and a sheriff's officer sprained his left knee and ankle while arresting him, prosecutors said.

Barajas is due back in court on Monday, Nov. 25, for arraignment in front of Judge Bugos.

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