A California college student found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting several women made a mad dash for freedom while being escorted out of the courtroom.
Arian Eteghaei, 23, a former student at University of California, Santa Barbara, tried to make his escape just moments after a jury found him guilty Friday on three counts of sexual assault involving five women and battery against a sixth.
As deputies fastened handcuffs on Eteghaei and began leading him from the courtroom to a secure holding area, he attempted to flee and sprinted toward State Street in downtown Santa Barbara.
A bailiff lunged to grab Eteghaei but struggled to restrain him until a second officer rushed over. Two bystanders also stepped in, helping the bailiffs pin Eteghaei to the ground.
Raquel Zick, spokeswoman for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, confirmed that Eteghaei did make a run for it while being transported between the court and a secure facility.