Escapee has history of fleeing By Steve McGonigle ‘taf Writer of The Nows ‘A West Dallas man who escaped from a courtroom Wednesday after receiving a 75- year prison sentence for armed robbery hhad a history of fleeing confinement — in- cluding an escape from Parkland Memorial Hospital while wrapped in a full body cast. ‘On Wednesday, the only bailiff who was aware that Johnny Roland Glover might be ‘a security risk left the courtroom for a den- tal appointment an hour before Glover broke away from his guards, leaving him in custody of two guards unfamiliar with his penchant for escape, officials said. ‘The 20,year-old Glover has a long eri nal record dating to his arrest at age 10 for hitting an elderly woman when she refused his demands for 15 cents; his record in- cludes arrests for aggravated assault, shop- lifting, auto theft and armed robbery, As- sistant Dist. Atty. Chris Stokes said. Robert Holmes, a district attorney's of: fice investigator, said Glover had escaped from the Texas Youth Council at least six times before he was certified to stand trial asan adult at age 15. After one escape, Holmes said, Glover led Dallas police on a chase in a stolen car. Glover left the car and was hiding in a field when a police car ran over him. He later escaped when three friends carried Glover — wearing a full body cast — out of Park- Tand, Holmes said, Glover was convicted Wednesday of the May 18 robbery of an Oak Cliff carpet store during which he and three accomplices took $450 in cash and a pistol from a store employee after threatening to kill the man ifhe resisted. Before Glover was apprehended for rob- bing the carpet store, he led police on an hour-long chase through West Dallas hous: ing projects, Holmes said. “His whole life has been on escape sta- tus,” Holmes said. Glover made his latest getaway by run ning from two bailiffs as they unlocked a door to place him in a holding cell. Glover had just given notice of appeal of his rob- ery conviction and was not handcuffed, bailiffs said. : ‘The alarm system designed to prevent lease see ESCAPE on Page 12A.Escapee = has record: of fleeing © Continued from Page 14. such escapes sounded in the sher- ifs department's radio room. It was deactivated when deputies’ were unable to reach someone in the courtroom to explain the= alarm, depyties said Glover _dolted3; to state Judge Ron Chap: man's. courtroom about 445 pact H Wednesday. He was being sought: + on felony chargess,” Jonsay Gover of second-degriée.: escape Thursday night. Glover ran through an adjacent’: courtroom and dashed down a hall:! to the stairway, passing the just that had heard his case, witnesses said, ‘Two bailiffs, a prosecutor and, Glover's defense attorney ran after Glover but were unable to catch him before he left the building: leaving behind one tennis shoe. ¢ ‘Chapman said he repeatedly Bit’ the “squayyk box” on his bench to! alarm shefiff's deputies of the es: cape but dould not get a response: from the dispatcher. ‘The sergeant monitoring the: alarm system said that the alarm: sounded twice in the radio room: but that no message was detivered: after either alarm. After the second alarm, Sgt. Don Wood said, he asked what was wrong and got no answer. “IF they hed just said alarm, we: would have gotten someone ‘tg! cover the doors and stop the és: cape," Wood said Chapman contended that she ifs officers should have heard him discussing the escape with &: prosecutor if the alarm system was, working properly. Although he did not fault bait} iffs for their handling of the situa: tion, Chapman said Glover's escapé does indicate that security proce! dures in the courthouse may need tobe reviewed. =