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Manhunt In Fort Lauderdale Looking For Escaped Inmate

A manhunt is underway in downtown Fort Lauderdale, where an inmate facing the death penalty escaped while waiting for a court hearing on Friday morning. 

Broward Sheriff Scott Israel confirmed that Dayonte Resiles, 21 years old and accused of murdering Davie resident Jill Halliburton Su in 2014, managed to escape from a courtroom located on the fourth floor of the Broward County Courthouse "before the perimeter was established."

As helicopters circled the city’s Regal Trace neighborhood searching for Resiles Friday afternoon, police were on the ground individually checking residents' cars trying to find him.

According to the authorities, Resiles got out of his handcuffs and shackles and stormed out of Judge Raag Singhal’s courtroom. He got rid of his jail uniform and was last seen wearing a white shirt and dark shorts. 

Frank Celone was waiting for his own case to be called in the same courtroom when Resiles jumped up and ran towards the door. He recalled the moment when Resiles left the group of inmates.

“It kind of looked like he was going after somebody that was sitting there, but he kept going,” Celone said. “When he hit the doors and tried to open them, there were people in the hallway, right behind the door, so it kind of stopped him. It gave the bailiff an opportunity to get closer to him, but he just fell short.”

 

Singhal didn’t continue hearing cases after Resiles managed to escape.

As of Friday afternoon, Broward Sheriff helicopters were circling the ground around the southeast corner of Northwest Second Avenue and Fourth Street in Fort Lauderdale.

"No stone will be left unturned,"said Israel, who also delivered a scathing critique of budget cuts in Broward County that left a staff of only "12 deputies, two sergeants and a lieutenant on duty" to provide security for the courthouse and the administrative building.

"Our only focus at this time should be on capturing the escaped inmate and ensuring the safety of the public,"said Broward County mayor Marty Kiar. "Once he has been captured and public safety restored, a full investigation will be done, all of the facts collected and we will determine how and why this occurred and take any corrective action that is necessary." 

As of late Friday afternoon, Resiles remained at large.

This is a developing story. Some things that get reported by the media will later turn out to be wrong. We will focus on reports from police officials and other authorities, credible news outlets and reporters who are at the scene. We will update as the situation develops.

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