Chip Roy seeks accountability from Texas DA over ‘lenient’ bail policies after officers’ shooting.
EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Chip Roy Demands Answers from Bexar County District Attorney on Release of “Career Criminal”
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) is taking action and seeking information from the Bexar County district attorney in Texas regarding the release on bail of a dangerous “career criminal” who allegedly shot at San Antonio police officers. Jesse Garcia Jr., a repeat offender with a criminal record dating back to 2015, was granted bond for multiple charges, including vehicle burglary, evading arrest, and illegal possession of a firearm. However, after his bail bondsman lost contact with him, Garcia was pursued by the police on August 24. Following his arrest for allegedly shooting at the officers, two of whom were hospitalized with gunshot wounds, Garcia is now being held without bond.
RETAIL THEFT DELIVERS AN ECONOMIC BLOW FOR COMPANIES AND COMMUNITIES
Reports indicate that Garcia had been arrested and released from jail twice within the past year. Rep. Roy, concerned about the district attorney’s decision to allow a felon like Garcia to be released, is questioning Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzalez, a Democrat.
“This tragedy is neither acceptable nor unforeseeable and is a direct consequence of lax bail policies that threaten the safety of Bexar County residents and our law enforcement officers,” Roy expressed in a letter to Gonzalez. “Indeed, just yesterday, two SAPD officers were hospitalized with gunshot wounds sustained from suspects with reported criminal histories.”
Roy is demanding answers from the district attorney, including the office’s policy on prosecutors objecting to low bond amounts, measures taken to prevent violent criminals from benefiting from lenient bond policies, and collaboration with county criminal judges to prioritize safety when determining bond. In his letter, Roy made it clear that Gonzalez’s response is necessary before considering any future federal grants or resource requests to his office.
“It should be your top priority as District Attorney to direct your prosecutors to push for appropriate bonds, or recommend no bail at all, for public safety risks like Garcia,” Roy emphasized. “Moreover, these instances of jailbreak needlessly put the brave men and women of law enforcement in harm’s way, which diminishes the trust of the entire community in the safety of San Antonio and Bexar County.”
The Bexar County District Attorney’s Office has not yet responded to requests for comment. This issue of lenient bail policies has been a point of contention between Republicans and Democratic district attorneys in recent years. Notably, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) suspended two district attorneys in Florida, accusing them of prioritizing criminal justice reform over public safety.
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