Toledo woman who left trial is found, arrested

11/18/2006

A Toledo woman who walked out of Wood County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday during a jury trial in which she was facing charges for trafficking in cocaine was arrested yesterday by the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force.

Timiko Banks, 31, of 2315 Putnam St., was booked into the Lucas County jail and was to be transferred to the Wood County Justice Center in Bowling Green.

Banks, who was on trial for three counts of trafficking in cocaine, left the Wood County court during a lunch break during jury selection Nov. 14 and did not return to the trial, according to Peter J. Elliott, U.S. marshal for the Northern District of Ohio.

The trial continued without her presence, and Banks was convicted by the jury on all three felony counts, he said.

Upon her conviction, Wood County Common Pleas Court Judge Reeve Kelsey issued a warrant for Banks' arrest.

Members of the task force arrested Banks yesterday at her Toledo home. Banks faces mandatory prison time for the felony convictions.