Man convicted of strangling woman escaped Wake courthouse during his trial

Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said a man convicted of assault on a woman ran from the Wake County Courthouse during his trial last week. Freeman said Rakeem Brown, 32, of Knightdale, was wearing an ankle monitor but removed it and ran from the courthouse. A jury on Thursday found Brown guilty of felony assault by strangulation and assault on a female. Before the sentencing portion of his trial began, Brown was able to remove his ankle monitor and leave the courthouse. Freeman said Brown was not in custody of the Wake County Sheriff's Office at the time, so he was allowed to leave the courtroom without a bailiff. He was located Friday in Fayetteville and arrested again. Brown was scheduled to reappear in court Monday afternoon.