Man who attacked Olmsted County deputy in runaway pursuit misses court appearance,
pr
Man who attacked Olmsted County deputy in runaway pursuit misses court appearance, presumably on the run
WATCH VIDEO REPORT AT LINK
Posted: Sep 16, 2015 7:24 PM CDTBy Ali Killam, Reporter
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) -Suspects in the attack on an Olmsted County deputy late in the night about two weeks ago are starting to appear in court, but one of them did not show up today, putting investigators on alert.
Maria Davila-Garcia and Gloria Garcia-Garza are accused of helping attack the deputy in that incident. Their next appearances in court will be for plea hearings.
The man accused of starting the events leading up to the attack is Fernando Garcia-Davila, who has since posted bail, but has been detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Earlier this month deputies say they had to chase after Fernando when he ran away from a traffic stop. We're told when the deputy caught up to him, three women jumped in and tried to fight the deputy off.
Officials say another man, Angel Garcia-Davila, also got involved, putting the deputy in a choke hold.
Angel had also posted bond, and then did not show up in court Wednesday, setting investigators off on a search for the alleged attacker. Two weeks ago, Sheriff Kevin Torgerson had voiced his concerns over the low bond limit set for Angel and feared that this could happen.
Angel is presumably on the run, after not showing up to his court appearance. His bail was set at $1,000--an amount Sheriff Torgerson says is simply too low. He himself says he is disappointed in the low maximum, especially after a gang-like assault on an officer translates to an assault on the community's safety.
The fact Angel wasn't in court this morning, is not surprising to the sheriff.
"For them not to be here and and be in court at this point in time for first arraignment or first hearing after initial charging, really disappointing," Torgerson says. "And predictable, you know, you can sit back and say this is predictable and it really goes back to what can be done to prevent that from happening and that is, put a higher bail on it."
In addition to riot and disorderly conduct charges, Angel faces a charge of 4th degree assault on a police officer--a low level offense in Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines.
"So depending on a person's criminal history, normally you would be looking at a probationary sentence and not a presumptive commit to prison like a first degree assault would be," says Jim Martinson, Chief Deputy of Olmsted County Attorney's Office.
Meaning if convicted, Angel could only be seeing a probation sentence. "That does not minimize the behavior, but Minnesota Guidelines state and that dictates the sentence, more than the interest of who the victim is in this case," Martinson says.
It's perhaps a reality that could use a second look in the eyes of those protecting us.
"The one thing that we and the justice system have control of is the amount of bail that people get put on them and in this case, it was just wrong--simple as that," says Torgerson.
The nationally applicable warrant for his arrest has been filed and should be ready by Thursday for investigators to pursue a search.
http://www.kttc.com/story/30049787/2...bly-on-the-run