MAN JUMPS FROM JAIL

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A jury convicted a man Tuesday of raping and kidnapping his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint, hours after he jumped from the second floor of the Gaston County Jail before jury deliberations.

Scott Flow was found guilty of holding his ex-girlfriend hostage in her home in May 2018 while her children ran for help.

Police said the woman was raped and officers negotiated with Flow to release her after a standoff. One officer told jurors that when he got inside, Flow was holding a gun to the woman’s head.

Flow’s trial was near the end and headed to jury deliberations Tuesday morning when he reportedly jumped from a second-story landing in the jail and broke his leg.

Channel 9′s Gaston County reporter Ken Lemon saw officers taking video of the incident to the judge for review.

The body camera video was played in court. Though blurry, it shows the deputies rushing to try and stop Flow from hurting himself.

As he was leaving his cell, Flow asked to go back and get his glasses. A deputy yelled just before he jumped, “Stop him!”

Flow dropped 15 feet before hitting a metal table.

He was in surgery when attorneys held an inquiry in court. The judge decided the jury would decide the case against the accused rapist, whether he could make it to court or not.

Prosecutors said it was Flow's attempt to hijack the judicial process.

"Those actions are all on him,” prosecutor Debbie Gullege said. “I think this was the defendant's attempt to maintain some degree of control over the situation.”

Flow’s attorneys said it was a suicide attempt.

"It's a rather violent event that has landed him in the hospital and to say it's some sort of con or ruse,” public defender Stuart Higdon said.

Jail staff does not have records showing Flow had any mental health issues or suicidal thoughts.

Flow will not be sentenced until he’s out of the hospital.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

Man on trial for rape, kidnapping found guilty after jumping from second floor of jail