The man who jumped from the 3rd floor of the McLennan County Courthouse was back in jail Friday night. A News Channel 25 crew was on the scene as Orlof Paxton Edwards jumped off of the 3rd floor rotunda Friday morning about 11 a.m.
Someone tried to grab Edwards, but he fell to the ground floor. Edwards was taken to the hospital after witnesses say he hit the spiked railing on the second story before falling to the ground.
Edwards was in 54th District Court, charged with theft under $1,000 with 2 or more prior convictions. The judge had remanded Edwards to custody after revoking his bond. A deputy was taking him to the booking room when he broke away, jumped over the partition in the courtroom, and then dove over the third story rotunda.
According to the McLennan County Sheriff's Office, there have been other jumpers in the past, but that it's a rare occurrence. The last jumper was in the 80's. Escape charges are pending against Edwards.
