Suspect flees Texas courthouse, steals, crashes police cruiser

(CBS) FORT WORTH - An apparent escape attempt by a man appearing before a judge at the Tarrant County Courthouse ended with a smashed police cruiser and an injured bystander.

Police say 33-year old Fred Lee Jackson and a friend made an appearance before a magistrate judge in a small, basement courtroom of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.

Deputies say the bailiff informed the men he'd been notified of a felony warrant out on Jackson, who bolted for the door, CBSDFW reported.

He then, "Takes off through the courtroom doors and hits the street," said Terry Grisham, with the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office.

Fort Worth police were notified about the escape and began searching for Jackson. At some point, a female officer apparently spotted the suspect.

"She then exited her vehicle and pursued that individual on foot," said Fort Worth police spokeswoman Sharron Neal. "That individual made a 180-degree turn on that officer, ran back to her patrol car, and got into her vehicle."

Jackson took off in the police cruiser but crashed about a mile away, broadsiding an SUV. An aerial view showed both vehicles pushed up onto the curb and a traffic light lying on the ground.

Jackson and driver of the SUV were both taken to an area hospital, with injuries that were not life threatening.

Ironically, deputies say even with the felony warrant, Jackson could have been a free man Tuesday night if he hadn't fled.

"He could have easily come in today and the magistrate could have set a bond for him and said, 'OK sir, here's your probable cause warrant, here's your bond, pay the clerk and you're free to go right back where he went.'"

Jackson faces charges of evading and resisting arrest with more charges pending.

Credit for photo with orange: A prisoner attempted to escape from custody in a police cruiser in downtown Fort Worth on April 24, 2012. (credit: Chuck Schechner/KRLD)