HOUSTON – The man who escaped from a Harris County courthouse after being left unattended by deputies who were responding to a brawl happening in a courtroom next door has been apprehended.
Michael Devon Combs, 32, was inside the 176th courtroom, located at 1201 Franklin Street, on Tuesday morning when a judge revoked his bond.
Shortly after, deputies said they placed shackles on Combs, but when a brawl happened inside a courtroom next door and authorities left to go assist, Combs somehow managed to remove his shackles and ankle monitor and walk out of the building.
“So, once they hit the panic button, then the deputies left out to go assist and he was sitting there. Somehow, in some kind of way, he got out of the shackles and walked out of the courtroom, got on the elevator, and walked out of the building. Once he got out of the building, he took off his ankle monitor,” HCSO Major Lynette Anderson said.
Although the sheriff’s office claimed to have policies and procedures to handle people who are in custody, they were unable to explain how Combs managed to walk out of the courthouse unnoticed.
According to court documents, Comb’s attorney said that she witnessed him forcefully kicking his shackled leg around until the chains opened. She told deputies she was “in shock” as he just walked out of the courtroom.
Update: Fugitive Michael Devon Combs, 32, has been apprehended. Thanks to our community for all the help! #HouNews pic.twitter.com/LBWK99kVEv
— HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) October 19, 2023
“We are investigating the entire thing, and this is an isolated incident, and we hope it won’t happen again,” Anderson said.
Deputies are also investigating how Combs was able to remove his restraints.
According to court documents from 2022, Combs was charged with assault of a family member second offender, and impeding breathing. Court records allege that Combs choked and punched the mother of his kids.
He was out on a $65,000 bond which was expected to be repealed due to his alleged actions of disabling his GPS monitor.
Combs is now expected to face an additional felony escape charge, according to deputies.
Watch the news conference from Tuesday, which details Combs’ escape