VENTURA : Suspect Flees Bailiffs Before Case Is Called
A Ventura man who had shown up in Ventura court to face about $17,000 in outstanding traffic- and narcotics-related warrants had a sudden change of heart Thursday--and fled from stunned bailiffs, authorities said.
Faced with the possibility of being remanded to deputies’ custody, Rodney Page changed his mind about 3 p.m. in Division 10 of Ventura County Municipal Court and “split out the door with deputies giving chase,” Sgt. Kenton Rainey said.
Page, 19, fled before Judge Roland N. Purnell even had a chance to call his case, the sergeant said.
Court bailiff Dan Russ joined the pursuit as it led authorities through a condominium complex at Telephone Road and County Square Drive.
Deputies and Ventura police, with the assistance of at least two canine units and a helicopter team, subsequently set up a perimeter that included an orange grove near Telephone Road and Victoria Avenue, but Page eluded them and remained at large.
Authorities also were searching the neighborhood where some of Page’s relatives live, Rainey said.
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