Deputies‏ Arrest Man Who Ran From Courtroom

The effort was short lived, police say the man was in custody within ten minutes.

Javier Solas Photo: Washington County Sheriff

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - A man who ran from the courtroom in the Washington County Law Enforcement Center was quickly apprehended by deputies who chased him as he ran from the building.

Sgt. Dave Thompson with the Washington County Sheriff's Office says Javier Solas was in court to face several charges resulting from an arrest for DUII.

"Mr. Solas was not in custody at the time of his appearance. The judge told Mr. Solas that he was going to be taken into custody. Mr. Solas immediately ran from the courtroom."

He says deputies chased after Solas and he was apprehended a short time later outside the building.

Solas appeared in court at the Washington County Law Enforcement Center at 10:30 AM on a series of charges stemming from an arrest for DUII in May of 2007. He was not in custody at the time of his appearance.

Mr. Solas had been arrested on May 2nd 2007 by Washington County Sheriff's deputies for DUII, Reckless Driving, Misdemeanor Driving While Suspended, and Giving False Information to Police.

He was booked into the Washington County Jail at that time and was later released and given a future court appearance date. But Thompson says he failed to appear for that court date. He says that on October 8th, Solas gave a false name again, and he was arrested for DUII, Reckless Driving, Giving False Information to Police, and Misdemeanor Driving While Suspended.

He also had warrants for the May 2nd charges. Solas was booked into the Washington County Jail. He was able to post bail and was released with a court date of October 19th 2007.

On that day, Solas appeared in court. The District Attorney's Office requested a higher bail to be set because of the repeat DUII offenses and prior Failure to Appear charges against Mr. Solas.

The judge ordered that Mr. Solas' bail be raised to $100,000 and that he be taken into custody until he can post a security deposit of ten percent of the new amount. Thompson says that when Mr. Solas heard that he was going to be taken into custody, he ran from the courtroom.

"Several deputies chased after him as he ran from the building. Mr. Solas ran east on S.W. Washington Street and then ran into the parking garage across from the Law Enforcement Center. By this time, eight to ten deputies had flooded the area and Mr. Solas was captured approximately four minutes after he ran from the courtroom."

Mr. Solas was taken back to court where the judge raised his bail to $250,000. He has been charged with the additional crime of Escape II. He is currently lodged in the Washington County Jail.