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Judge Vaults Bench to Subdue Courtroom Attacker
Daily Business Review
March 26, 2009
In Florida, Broward County Judge Ian Richards demonstrated he could wield more than a gavel when he took a flying leap over his bench to tackle a defendant in his courtroom who attacked a woman who testified against a former boyfriend in a domestic violence case.
Richards, who was elected to the bench in August, remanded John Charles Reasee II into custody Tuesday on domestic violence charges.
A bailiff was putting handcuffs on the 29-year-old defendant when he bolted around his attorney toward the witness, Nicole Word. She sought refuge in a corner between the bench and the witness box with Reasee close behind. It was then that the judge vaulted the bench to help a court security officer and two Lauderhill police officers subdue the attacker.
The judge returned to the bench by the time Reasee was handcuffed and hustled out of the courtroom.
Reasee faces new charges of resisting arrest and domestic battery. Word was treated for bruises and appeared well enough to discuss her ordeal with reporters.
Richards did not return a call for comment by deadline Tuesday. But he told the Miami Herald that the episode was "unfortunate" and he hoped "both individuals can get on with their lives and learn to behave."
The late morning incident, which was initially reported by the JAA Blog, was videotaped by a courthouse security camera. The video was seen widely by viewers of South Florida television news and the Web sites of area newspapers.
