Cops: St. Innocent Orthodox Church bell thief escapes hospital, hits police, then recaptured

CLEVELAND - The man accused of stealing brass bells from St. Innocent Orthodox Church was in police custody, until he needed to be treated at the hospital where he briefly escaped.

But North Olmsted police said Brian Diamond, 34, was recaptured around 3:30 p.m.

According to authorities, Diamond needed to be treated at a local hospital early Tuesday afternoon when police originally arrested him.

While in the hospital room, Diamond took over officers and escaped from custody, prompting an extensive search.

SWAT team members, Middleburg Heights police, Berea police, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers and hospital security began looking for Diamond.

Diamond was found in a field next to the hospital. Originally, a scrap yard worker called police reporting a man just tried to sell brass bells to them.

Now Diamond faces additional charges, including theft, escape and assault on a police officer.

The five bells, worth $6,000 and weighing 300 lbs., were stolen from St. Innocent Orthodox Church on Usher Road sometime between 12:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday.

According to Father Michael Butler, the bells were embedded in a wooded frame in the front lawn of the church. The frame was sawed in half, releasing the brass bells which were imported from Russia. The bells were donated by a parishioner whose husband passed away.