Sheriff Scott Israel: "Worst Fears Were Realized" After Prisoner Escape

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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) -- Following a murder suspect's escape from the Broward County Courthouse, Sheriff Scott Israel spoke to the media voicing concern about his behind-the-scenes battle with the county over money and politics.

Dayonte Resiles, 21, escaped from a fourth floor courtroom Friday morning, July 15th. He's accused of murdering a woman in her Davie home in 2014 and was in court to determine whether prosecutors will attempt to seek the death penalty in his trial.

Police said, while in a waiting area, Resiles was able to somehow free himself from his waist shackles, and push his way passed security and through a door, where he shed his jail house clothes and ran off.

"Today, my worst fears were realized," said Sheriff Israel, addressing the media. The sheriff then took the opportunity to shed some light on what he called an understaffed force, alluding that a larger law enforcement presence in the building could have been better prepared to handle situations like inmate escapes.

"We have been battling Broward County for three years now asking for adequate staffing for a courthouse that was understaffed since the day I became sheriff of Broward county," said Sheriff Israel. "We have a new courthouse coming that's about 12 floors larger and the county wants to give me an insufficient amount of funding to staff that building."

Israel is also looking for a second term as sheriff on the 2016 ballot.

"The county's listening: we need more money, we need more people," he said. "Philosophically, there's a difference between Broward county and your sheriff. The county believes that my job is to save dollars. I believe my job is to save lives."

County Mayor Marty Kiar responded in a statement. It read:

"Our only focus at this time should be on capturing the escaped inmate and ensuring the safety of the public. Once he has been captured and public safety restored, a full investigation will be done, all of the facts collected and we will determine how and why this occurred and take any corrective action that is necessary."

Sheriff Israel is up for reelection this year.