Inmate Finds Handcuff Key At Broward Courthouse

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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – It was in Judge Elizabeth Scherer's 7th floor courtroom where investigators say jail inmate Keenan Renois was caught with a handcuff key.

Courthouse Blogger Bill Gelin got wind of it this morning.

"There was an interruption to the morning docket," Gelin said.  "A bunch of corrections or deputies came into the courtroom, had to clear the box out because contraband in the form of a handcuff key may have been discovered on an in custody inmate."

We've learned that a detention deputy lost his key.  He said "I placed the handcuff key in my upper left shirt pocket."

He said Renois is the one who found it "...he saw the key on the floor and picked it up," the deputy said.  After checking all the inmates in the courtroom, deputies were told Renois had it.

He was asked... "do you have anything on you that you shouldn't or that we should know about?"

The answer was yes.

The handcuff keys are universal CBS4's Ted Scouten was told and can be used on any law enforcement cuffs.

In this case, the key reportedly fell into Renois's hands.

He's in jail, accused of Burglary, grand theft of a fire arm, two cases of grand theft and two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a 6 year old girl.

This latest incident comes just days after accused killer Dayonte Resiles escaped from a Broward courtroom.

His jail clothes and handcuffs where found in a pile in the hallway.  Surveillance pictures show he raced down a stairwell - then got into a waiting get-a-way car.

His escape led to a massive manhunt.  During that search, deputies arrested for people, including twin 17 year olds.

All of them are accused of helping him pull off the well planned escape.