Theft Suspect’s Escape Short-Lived
A petty-theft suspect being escorted through the Van Nuys Municipal Court briefly escaped from sheriff’s deputies Thursday but was recaptured within minutes.
Thomas Biggin, 38, was being taken back to the courthouse jail with three other inmates after a conference with his attorney when he broke away from the group, dashed through a courtroom and ran out the courthouse’s front door, sheriff’s Sgt. Gary Watson said.
Three deputies chased Biggin out the door and tackled him on the sidewalk in front of the building near Delano Street and Sylmar Avenue, Watson said.
Biggin returned quietly to the courthouse after being wrestled to the ground, Watson said. Biggin, who is being held in County Jail pending trial on petty-theft charges, now faces additional felony charges for the 12:50 p.m. escape attempt, Watson said.
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