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2 deputies hurt in escape try
Published October 30, 2009
ANGLETON — A Brazoria County sheriff’s deputy was hit on the head with part of an outdoor lamp after a prisoner bolted from the courthouse Thursday, police said.
Willoughby Tocker, 29, of Angleton is accused of hitting Deputy Andy Kutch with the fixture he picked up off the ground. The fixture had blown off the lamppost.
Tocker was at the courthouse for a hearing on a sexual assault charge. He broke free from a holding area and ran into Judge Pat Sebesta’s second-floor courtroom, where he shoved Deputy Gary Edwards into a bench, then ran downstairs, knocked down a female custodian and ran outside, sheriff’s investigator Stephen Buchanan said.
The incident began at about 11:20 a.m. when police were moving the 6-foot, 2-inch, 280-pound Tocker from one chain gang to another to take inmates from the courthouse for lunch, Buchanan said.
“He was in a holding cell and they were making a chain of inmates to take back to the jail,” Buchanan said. “He got off the chain and pushed the door open. He shoved Deputy Edwards and pinned him against a bench, then took off down the aisle.”
Deputies said Tocker ran downstairs and removed his orange sheriff’s office shirt before leaving the west exit of the courthouse with deputies chasing. Buchanan said the inmate hit Kutch on the left side of the head with part of the light fixture.
Angleton ISD Police Officer Mike Stroman was at the courthouse and joined in the chase on foot, sheriff’s Capt. Richard Foreman said. Stroman caught Tocker near the gazebo on Magnolia Street about a block south of the courthouse, Angleton ISD Police Chief Chip Gayle said.
“He held the guy until other officers got there and took him into custody,” Gayle said. “He represented AISD police very well. I’m very pleased with him, and we’re glad no one else got hurt.”
Edwards and Kutch were taken by ambulance to Angleton Danbury Medical Center, where Kutch received three stitches to the forehead and Edwards had some back pain, Foreman said. Both were treated and released.
Tocker likely will face charges of felony escape and assault of a public servant. Both are felony charges.
Tocker was awaiting a pre-trial hearing on charges of sexual assault, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and felony possession of a controlled substance.
He was arrested on a warrant Dec. 31, 2008, after catching a ride with a woman in Angleton, Buchanan said. After the woman drove Tocker to the Rosharon area, he is accused of sexually assaulting her “several times,” Buchanan said.
Tocker recently was evaluated to determine if he was mentally competent to stand trial after he talked loudly during a hearing about a month ago, said his attorney, Jeff Purvis.
“He was acting peculiar,” Purvis said. “He was talking nonsense in open court.”
Purvis said he and prosecutors then agreed to have Tocker evaluated, but no report is yet available.
Purvis was at the hearing Thursday and said he did not see his client nor witness the incident. Tocker had not been a problem during past court proceedings until the one about a month ago, he said.
Brazoria County District Attorney Jeri Yenne said officers did a good job trying to contain Tocker in a crowded courthouse.
“They managed it well,” she said. “We constantly need to be aware of security.”
John Tompkins and John Lowman are reporters for The Facts. Contact them at 979-849-8581.
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