Man Bolts Courtroom, Jumps Into River
A man charged with attacking his brother and sister-in-law with a machete had to be rescued from a river when he bolted from the Whitley County Courthouse and jumped into the water handcuffed.
James Fields was being returned to the jail in Williamsburg after a court appearance on Monday when he ran, according to WLEX-TV in Lexington
The 40-year-old Fields went under twice before a deputy could rescue him about 75 yards downstream from where he had jumped into the Cumberland River.
Fields told the TV station he’s very thankful to the deputy, but said he has received mental health treatment for schizophrenia and was following the commands of voices in his head when he ran about 200 yards to the river and jumped in.
