Woman In Court-Ordered Class On Decision Making Caught Trying To Escape Through Ceiling

GRAND RAPIDS (WWJ) - Authorities say a 27-year-old woman who was attending a court-ordered class on decision making was arrested after she tried to escape through the courthouse ceiling.

Jessica Lynn Cato was at the Kent County Court attending a class called "Thinking Matters," an intensive program that challenges individuals to examine the core attitudes and beliefs that motivate their thinking patterns and dictate their behaviors, with the ultimate goal of changing those destructive behaviors.

During the class, court security was informed that Cato had two criminal bench warrants -- one for contempt of court and one for probation violation -- and would need to be taken into custody.

While in the process of being apprehended, officials say Cato managed to elude staff and barricaded herself in a public restroom. She was eventually located in the ceiling above the public area of the courthouse and taken into custody.

Cato has since been lodged at the Kent County Jail for the two active warrants.

The Kent County Sheriff Department says it is investigating further charges against Cato as a result of this incident.