Detroit Police Chief Upset Over Release Of Suspect Charged With Attempted Murder
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Detroit's police chief says a young man charged with attempted murder was released on bond and pursued the alleged victim again.
James Craig told The Detroit News that police are looking for 21-year-old Steven Jackson, who was released after posting 10 percent of a $100,000 bond on Aug. 25.
"I'm angry, and I want to have a dialogue with judges and the prosecutor so we're all on the same page," Craig said. "We need to work more effectively in the criminal justice system to keep these violent suspects behind bars. There's a dangerous man now walking the streets, when he should never have been let out in the first place."
Craig said Jackson's bond was too low.
"It's problematic when a person like that gets bonded out for that amount, and goes back and predictably commits another violent crime against the exact same victim," he said. "This is an opportunity for us to take an exhaustive look at the system, and see how effective it's working in Detroit. In this case, the system failed this victim."
Jackson, along with his half-brother, is charged with two counts of assault with intent to commit murder and felonious assault after an Aug. 9 incident in which he allegedly opened fire, in broad daylight, on a 25-year-old man with whom they had an ongoing feud, the newspaper reported.
Days after posting bail, Jackson allegedly went back to the victim's house and shot him several times in the chest. The victim is currently recovering at a local hospital.
Maria Miller, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office, says budget woes prevented a prosecutor from attending Jackson's arraignment on a Saturday in August when bond was set by a magistrate.
