Recently released security footage reveals a 28-year-old murder suspect, Edi Villalobos, making an escape attempt at the Washington County Courthouse in Oregon on Monday, February 27th. Villalobos was standing trial for second-degree murder in the stabbing of 33-year-old Artemio Guzman-Olvera, alongside two counts of first-degree burglary, unlawful use of a weapon, reckless driving, and reckless endangerment.
The footage, which was made public by the Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, displays two deputies assigned to accompany Villalobos while his shackles were removed prior to jury selection. In a span of three minutes, the suspect leaps over a chair and sprints towards the exit, with the deputies chasing close behind. The video then shifts to the hallway, where Villalobos is seen leaving the building through a “staff only” door.
The ensuing two-hour manhunt involved several law enforcement agencies, canine units, and drones; a “reverse 911 message” was also issued to the local area, instructing residents to stay put. Villalobos was twice spotted during the pursuit but managed to elude officers. Finally, a community member in the 300 block of SE 4th Avenue reported a man attempting to break into an empty apartment underneath the caller’s dwelling. Villalobos was discovered hiding underneath a blanket inside a closet. He was immediately detained and transported back to the county jail.
The trial that was initially due to begin the week of February 27th was canceled and rescheduled for the end of September, with an additional three charges of first-degree burglary and one count of second-degree escape being added to Villalobos’s indictment. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office plans to address the escape through extra training.