Thread: Man Under Million Dollar Bond In Murder Case Now Out Of Jail

NC

Man Under Million Dollar Bond In Murder Case Now Out Of Jail
Updated: 4:12 PM Oct 20, 2006

Charged with murder and under a million dollar bond, an illegal alien accused of stabbing a Grimesland man to death this month is now out of jail. A Jamaican citizen, Steve Radcliff Shannon, was released from the Pitt County Detention Center after a judge approved a bond reduction order to $100,000, unsecured. Authorities say Shannon simply signed some paperwork, stating he would appear in court and was then released. Despite Shannon now being free, Chief Lee Moore with the Pitt County Sheriff's Department says he feels good about where the case stands. Shannon was due in court Friday morning, but his case was continued until January 26 of next year.

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Suspect in restaurant owner death out on bond

By Erin Rickert
The Daily Reflector

Friday, October 20, 2006

A man in the country illegally and charged with fatally stabbing a Grimesland man earlier this month was released from the Pitt County Detention Center after a judge approved a bond reduction order.

Pitt Sheriff's detectives arrested Steve Radcliff Shannon on a charge of murder Oct. 2 and booked him into the Pitt County Detention Center on a $1 million secured bond.

Three days later, Assistant District Attorney Glenn Perry said a meeting between him, other members of the District Attorney's Office and Sheriff's Office detective Paula Dance determined it would be appropriate to reduce Shannon's bond. The order was brought before a district court judge who consented to reduce the bond to $100,000 unsecured on Oct. 5, jail records show.

Perry said the decision to reduce a murder suspect's bond to unsecured is unusual.

"We thought this was the right decision at this time," Perry said. He refused further comment.

Shannon is scheduled to appear for a probable cause hearing in district court today. His status since being released from jail the morning of Oct. 5 could not be determined late Thursday.

Shannon is the cousin of Dwight Omarie Smith, 29, stabbed once in the pelvic area at his Grimesland home about 8 p.m. on Oct. 1. Shannon was living at Smith's home prior to the stabbing, but it was unclear Thursday for how long.

Pitt County Sheriff's Office chief investigator Lee Moore said Shannon came to the United States from Jamaica on a temporary visa for a soccer match in Miami in spring 2005. The visa, which allowed him to be in the country legally, expired Aug. 9, 2005, Moore said.

The night of Oct. 1, Smith and Shannon were apparently arguing, Moore said. Family, including Shannon, transported Smith by private vehicle to Beaufort Memorial Hospital after he was stabbed. Shannon was detained at the hospital for questioning and later arrested, Moore said.

Smith's mother, Valerie Dacres, said there were several arguments at the home leading up to her son's death.

"He called a lot and told me about it," Dacres said by telephone from her Jamaica home. "That week it got real hot."

Dacres said she last spoke with her son the night before his death. He expressed frustration with the fighting.

Moore said detectives are unsure how the fight started or what caused Shannon to arm himself. The weapon used during the argument has not been located, Moore said.

Smith's sister, Natalie Dacres, said her brother was someone who avoided confrontation, devoting himself to the operation of Jahnaz Caribbean Cuisine on Evans Street in Greenville, which he owned.

Family temporarily closed the restaurant following Smith's death. A relative at the radio station next door and a sign on the restaurant door Thursday indicated plans to reopen the business the start of next week.

"He loved everybody," Natalie Dacres said, noting Smith always had a smile on his face. "Everybody loved him."

The family plans for a Sunday funeral after the arrival of Smith's body in Jamaica earlier this week.

Erin Rickert can be contacted at erickert@coxnc.com and 329-9566.

You can bet your last penny that he will take off to Jamaica. If not than Canada as many of them that were running from the law went to Toronto. They had a hell of a time keeping them out of the country. Many of them were wanted in Jamaica and several belonged to violent gangs.

Of course let him out,,, but hold those two Border Patrol Agents feet to the fire .

If your an American Citizen in this country, you better believe we have to tow the line!

The way these drug dealers and smugglers are getting away with so much, it makes you wonder who alls pockets are being lined with this dirty drug money.