Mainsail
Regular Member
imported post
I don’t often like to discuss “what if” sorts of scenarios because of the myriad of permutations that any situation can create, but this has me wondering. If two people claiming to be bail bond agents draw on you, what the heck are you supposed to do? If you believe them and let them disarm you, it could be a deadly encounter for you if they are not who they claim to be. If it were just a case of mistaken identity, are there any criminal or civil remedies that you could pursue for their seizing you?
Anyway, I heard the call for this yesterday on the scanner when I was driving home from work. It happened in Lakewood but even Tacoma PD put the call out. It’s too early to tell what really happened, but I sure hope they didn’t get the wrong person.
I don’t often like to discuss “what if” sorts of scenarios because of the myriad of permutations that any situation can create, but this has me wondering. If two people claiming to be bail bond agents draw on you, what the heck are you supposed to do? If you believe them and let them disarm you, it could be a deadly encounter for you if they are not who they claim to be. If it were just a case of mistaken identity, are there any criminal or civil remedies that you could pursue for their seizing you?
Anyway, I heard the call for this yesterday on the scanner when I was driving home from work. It happened in Lakewood but even Tacoma PD put the call out. It’s too early to tell what really happened, but I sure hope they didn’t get the wrong person.
Published: May 23rd, 2008 06:45 AM | Updated: May 23rd, 2008 06:47 AMBail bond agents shot and killed a man they were trying to apprehend Thursday in Lakewood, police said. Officers were working into the night to piece together exactly what happened. The scene of the afternoon shooting near the intersection of Pacific Highway Southwest near 47th Avenue was still cordoned off Thursday evening while officers took measurements and photographs.
A wig the dead man had been wearing sat on top of his car.
Lakewood police Lt. Dave Guttu said the dead man, who wasn’t identified, was shot while sitting in his car. It’s not clear what he was wanted for or whether he was armed.
“We haven’t searched the car yet,” Guttu said. “We’re going to impound it.”
The bond agents told police the man was wanted on several felony warrants, he said.
Police took four bond agents, who were riding in two cars, in for questioning, along with two witnesses. The investigation hadn’t progressed far enough to know what charges, if any, might be filed, Guttu said.
The man’s bonds were held by Liberty Bail Bonds, but the agents are believed to be independent contractors, not Liberty employees, Guttu said.
A man who answered the phone Thursday night at Liberty’s office in Tacoma referred all calls to corporate offices. A message left at that number in Kelso, Cowlitz County, wasn’t immediately returned. A call to an “emergency” number on the corporate voice mail was answered by a woman who said she wasn’t authorized to talk and that no one would be available to talk Thursday night.
Washington’s bail bond agents, sometimes called bounty hunters, can and do use firearms, handcuffs, batons and stun guns to apprehend and return to justice suspects out on bail who fail to show up in court.
They can even enter a private home without a warrant if they have reason to believe a bail jumper is inside.
In March, the amount of training they’re required to have was upped to a minimum of 32 hours. They must also report every time they enter a home by force to retrieve someone.
Steve Mann, an auto detailer who works across the street from the shooting scene, said he heard several gunshots.
“It was like pop-pop-pop,” he said. “My buddy said, ‘Those were not firecrackers.’ Forty-five seconds later we heard sirens.”
None of the bond agents was injured and it didn’t appear their cars were hit by gunfire, Guttu said.
Detectives have a clearer picture of what happened Thursday evening between four bail bond agents and a wanted man, who was fatally shot outside a Lakewood auto shop.
The agents shot and killed the man near the intersection of Pacific Highway Southwest near 47th Avenue about 4:40 p.m. The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office has not positively identified the man, who had cash but no identification in his pockets.
The bond agents, believed to be independent contractors working with Liberty Bail Bonds, had been looking for the man. He was suspected of fleeing on several felony warrants, Lakewood police Lt. Dave Guttu said.
The agents, working in two teams, received information the man was going to be picking up his car at the auto shop.
“The bounty hunters knew he was going to be there,” Guttu said.
The agents tried to take the man into custody but the man, who was in his car, hit one of the bonding agent’s cars.
“He backed up real quick, then went forward real quick,” Guttu said.
The bonding agents were afraid that the man was going to hit them with their cars. Two of the agents fired their guns. The man was struck and died a short time later from his injuries. No one else was injured.
Lakewood detectives interviewed and took statements from each agent. They also interviewed witnesses to the events. They were hoping to look at surveillance video from a neighboring business to see if the cameras captured the shooting, Guttu said. They also plan to execute a search warrant on the victim’s car.
The agents, who were properly licensed with the state, were not arrested Thursday night.
“Their claim was self-defense,” Guttu said. “They were afraid they were going to get struck by the car.”
Lakewood detectives plan to forward their case to prosecutors to review and decide whether any charges should be filed.
Bail bond agents licensed in Washington can and do use firearms, handcuffs, batons and stun guns to apprehend and return suspects to the court system. They can enter a private home without a warrant if they have reason to believe a bail jumper is inside.
Guttu said Lakewood police have had little trouble with bail bond agents working in the city.
“We’ve had short foot pursuits, we’ve had real minor car chases,” he said. “Most of the time, it’s usually without any violence.”