No, it is very typical for the police to pick up defendants outside the courtroom for questioning or arrest. If you think about it, why wouldn't the police prefer to pick up a defendant when he is in a secure court house, having gone through a metal detector, etc., in lieu of going to his home and placing themselves in danger?
Why did the guy have to leave the courtroom and what reasons were given to interupt court to have a detective question him? There's more to this shady story.Not only that, but it's convenient. It's not like there are enough cops to keep track of all the people with warrants out for their arrest -- especially in a place where there are zillions jurisdictions and precincts and whatnot to complicate the communications and administration.
No, it is very typical for the police to pick up defendants outside the courtroom for questioning or arrest. If you think about it, why wouldn't the police prefer to pick up a defendant when he is in a secure court house, having gone through a metal detector, etc., in lieu of going to his home and placing themselves in danger?
Sometimes the first Department A will hear of the whereabouts of someone they want will be when they notice that he is in court in Department B's bailiwick.
Further, at least the way Family Treatment Court works around here, it can take the whole afternoon. The people and their socila workers come to the waiting room around 1300. Some days we're not done until 1630 or later. The "defendants" (not really, but for lack of a better word) all talk with the judge, then they hang out and the social workers talk with the judge, then maybe some defendants go back for individual conferences, then they all go at once. So I can see the detective just inquiring whether he had to wait for hours or if he could just arrest the guy and move on.
Around here, if a regular person had done what the judge did he could certainy be charged with what amounts to misdemeanor obstruction of justice.