CLEVELAND — Body camera footage shows accused Cleveland cop killer De'Lawnte Hardy's recent attempt to escape from the Cuyahoga County Jail, from the moment he begins sprinting away from his cell until he's handcuffed and behind bars once again.
Hardy has been at the jail since his arrest on July 4, accused of murdering his grandmother in Garfield Heights before killing Cleveland Officer Jamieson Ritter. His bond was initially set at $10 million, but it appears he had other ideas about his incarceration on July 20.
The footage shows the beginning of his escape attempt, when Hardy is let out of his cell to take a shower. He then began sprinting down an open hallway as a guard yelled, "Where are you running?!"
Video clips from several guards show Hardy was quickly caught within seconds, but didn't go quietly. Once he is stopped, Hardy fights four guards at once, kicking multiple correctional officers to the ground during the scuffle.
The footage shows how jail staff sprung into action. Corrections officers can be seen sprinting through hallways and racing out of elevators to assist their colleagues as quickly as possible.
The video shows it took a dozen officers to get Hardy under control, with some shouting commands and others working to restrain him. Employees finally got him handcuffed and taken to a new cell.
By that point, staffers were not taking chances. In the footage, at least five officers can be seen piling into an elevator while transporting Hardy. There's barely enough room for all of them to stand, but escorting the suspect seemed to be a priority.
Once Hardy was finally placed into a new cell, footage showed at least 10 officers working to put the accused killer back behind bars.
Cuyahoga County has not announced any new charges against Hardy as a result of the attempted escape, but he has been ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation before he stands trial. His bond has also been revoked.