A defendant in Denver Drug Court picked up a 180-day jail sentence for running out of the courtroom today.
Gaspar Ortega showed up this morning in drug court for a routine follow-up. But when court officers suspected he had been drinking, which is a violation of a court order, he was ordered to take a breathalyzer test.
Ortega jumped up and ran out of the City and County Building, followed by several Denver Sheriff’s deputies. They captured him a block away, near the Wellington Webb office building at 15th Street and Court Place.
“He ran out of gas,” said Sgt. Frank Gale. “The deputies showed their Taser, but never had to use it. He just gave up.”
Back in court, Magistrate Palmer Boyette gave Ortega 180 days in jail for fleeing, according to Gale.
