Being “on-the-lam” just doesn’t work for some people.
A 21-year-old Sarcoxie man was rearrested shortly after he fled a Phelps County court and took off on foot Tuesday morning.
Out of jail and appearing in court for a counsel-status hearing in his case involving a charge of leaving the scene of an accident, Matthew S. Ebey ran from the courthouse when he was advised there was a warrant for his arrest. Ebey failed to appear for his arraignment in September.
Ebey was chased by one bailiff while another bailiff called the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department for assistance.
Deputies chased Ebey and captured him near the vicinity of Third and Elm streets, a few blocks from the courthouse.
Booked into the Phelps County Jail about 45 minutes after he fled the courtroom, Ebey was held on the original charge of leaving the scene of an accident and on a new charge of probation violation, with 24-hour holds for escaping from custody and resisting arrest by fleeing.
According to court documents, Associate Judge Ronald D. White believed Ebey “breached the conditions of bond and is a flight risk.”
