Toledo murder suspect, who's escaped twice, gets video arraignment

Jonathon Johnson, 23, is arraigned via a video appearance today in Toledo Municipal Court on a charge of aggravated murder.

A Toledo man charged with murder, who also has a tendency to run from police, was arraigned by video today in Toledo Municipal Court and ordered to be held in the Lucas County jail.

Jonathon Johnson, who managed to escape and free from police twice in as many days, is in the jail in lieu of $800,000 bond.

Officials opted for the video arraignment -- which is rare in Toledo -- because of his pattern of escaping and fleeing.

Mr. Johnson, 23, of 1657 Vance St., is charged with aggravated murder for the Oct. 5, 2012, shooting death of Jonathon Morris, 22, at East Toledo's Ravine Park Village. The suspect is also charged with burglary for breaking into an North Toledo porch Saturday after escaping from custody outside Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center.

Friday, the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Mr. Johnson after finding him hiding in a doghouse in central Toledo during a 30-minute chase and manhunt. Once the suspect was at the jail, he complained of feeling ill and was taken to the hospital.

After being discharged Saturday, he was escorted by Lucas County Sheriff's deputies to a van bound for the jail when the suspect, handcuffed and wearing a brown jumpsuit, escaped and ran.

Twenty minutes later, a Toledo police officer found Mr. Johnson hiding in a porch.

Mr. Johnson is to appear in court again on April 8.