Judge catches runaway teen

LISBON, Ohio, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- An Ohio judge who caught a teenager who had escaped from his courtroom says he may have to recuse himself from the case.

The 17-year-old ran from the Columbiana County juvenile court building Tuesday in handcuffs and without his shoes, the Youngstown Vindicator reported. The boy had been brought back to the county for a hearing after he allegedly assaulted a sheriff's deputy and a member of the staff at a juvenile detention facility in Canton, Ohio.

Judge Thomas Baronzzi changed into a hunting outfit and joined the pursuit after the teen took off.

Baronzzi said the first time he caught up with the teenager he told him he had no place to go. The boy refused to get into the judge's car, taking off again.

The second time, the teen went with the judge, who drove him back to the court building.

"When we got there, he got out and thanked me," Baronzzi said.

The teen was found to be on the verge of hypothermia after running through creeks in his stocking feet on a day when the temperature was about 20 degrees.

Baronzzi said he may have to remove himself from any further proceedings. The teen faces an additional escape charge.