A Twentynine Palms man really did not want to go to jail Wednesday. According to a Sheriff’s report, Jack Smith, 36, was in court for a follow-up appearance for possession of a dirk or dagger, violating a restraining order, and contempt of court. When Judge Rodney Cortez was about to announce bail for Smith, Smith fled the courtroom and courthouse. Bailiffs Scott Leach and Adrian Garcia chased Smith out of the courthouse. Garcia found Smith hiding in the garage of a house across the highway from the CHP office. Smith was brought back to court, where he then said he had passed out. Paramedics from Morongo Basin Ambulance came and checked him out and determined Smith was not in medical distress. Jack Smith was then booked into the jail on his warrants and for resisting arrest. He has another court appearance this afternoon.
