Cook County authorities searching for man who fled courthouse after court ruling

COOK COUNTY, Ill. (WGN) – Authorities in Cook County are searching for a man who ran from the courtroom and out of the courthouse during a hearing Monday afternoon.

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office said just after 12:30 p.m., 32-year-old Richard Donta J. Cotton appeared in court for his scheduled hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse where a judge ordered him into custody on charges of possession of a weapon with a previous conviction and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon/vehicle with a previous conviction.

After the judge read their decision, Cotton reportedly ran from the courtroom and left the courthouse. He currently remains at large and a warrant has been issued for his arrest, according to authorities.

Cook County Sheriff’s Police are working in coordination with the Chicago Police Department to find Cotton.

Anyone with information on Cotton’s whereabouts is asked to call the Cook County Sheriff’s Office at 847-635-1188.