Felon Holds Knife to Neck and Flees Court
A man who had his parole revoked after being arrested for firearms offenses put a knife to his own neck, told bailiffs to stay away, and escaped from the Hsinchu District Court wearing fetters yesterday, Wednesday, October 4.
Ho Rong-qi (何榮淇) had just been told that he would be going back to prison when he drew a utility knife and threatened to kill himself. Ho escaped the basement-level court via the judges’ passageway and locked a fire door behind him, preventing the two court bailiffs from chasing him. Ho then went to the first floor, where he smashed a window with a fire extinguisher, and fled the court.
Surveillance camera footage shown on local media showed Ho jogging across a car park with an awkward gait due to the fetters on his ankles. Ho then squeezed through a gap in the outer enclosure and disappeared without a trace.
A court spokesperson told media that the suspect was wearing ankle fetters, but no handcuffs at the time. According to the spokesperson, construction work was undergoing in the prisoners’ holding area at the time. A worker had inadvertently left a utility knife in the passageway, which Ho had managed to secure.
Close to 100 police were involved in a search around the vicinity of the court, but could not find Ho. Police said Ho was a known gang member with previous convictions for organized crime and deadly assault.
Ho was facing the court yesterday after being arrested for possession of two handguns. Ho was on parole at the time of the offense.
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