07-30-2010, 11:45 AM
http://www.news-press.com/article/20100730/CRIME/7300376/1075/Fort-Myers-chief-wants-suspect-remanded
Fort Myers Police Chief Doug Baker appealed to a county judge this week to revoke bond for a man accused of threatening an officer's life during a traffic stop.
Memos from Chief Doug Baker to both his staff and Judge Tara Paluck, as well as Officer Mitchell’s memo to the chief and Robert Caldwell’s arrest report (WARNING: Explicit language)
In a letter to Judge Tara Paluck, Baker outlined the July 18 incident when felon Robert Caldwell told Officer Walter Mitchell, "You can catch a bullet, too ... if you keep coming to Harlem Lakes (expletive) with people, you gonna catch a bullet."
It was the second time in a week Mitchell was threatened during patrol. Baker is concerned because Paluck granted Caldwell a $50,000 bond on that charge - despite his criminal history, the seriousness of the charge and the recommendation of Assistant State Attorney Ryan Doyle to revoke bond. Paluck also ordered Caldwell held on $15,000 bond on charges of fraud and larceny.
"I have great concern for my officers, as they may come in contact with him in the future and fear for my officers' safety and other officers in Southwest Florida," Baker wrote to Paluck. "Although $65,000 is above the norm, individuals who continue to prey on society, citizens and police officers should be remanded, and I support the no bond requested by Assistant State Attorney Doyle."
Samantha Syoen, spokeswoman for the state attorney's office, said since the judge's initial decision, prosecutors have filed a motion for pretrial detention, which if approved by the judge would hold Caldwell in custody until his trial. A hearing on that matter is set for today.
Ken Kellum, court operations director for the 20th Judicial Circuit, said Paluck can't comment about her reasoning because it's a pending case. But he said the state attorney's office has the right to request a different bond.
Caldwell, who was released from prison in January after serving one year for cocaine possession and being an accessory after the fact, remained in custody at Lee County Jail as of Thursday night on charges of larceny, fraud and threatening a public servant.
According to Mitchell, the first incident during which he was threatened happened July 16, when he stopped a vehicle for a tag violation.
The driver and passenger were argumentative, and Mitchell realized he had previously arrested passenger Barry Donnell White, 29, "aka B-Boy," on drug charges. As Mitchell was writing the driver a citation, White reportedly shouted, "I can't stand you, that's alright. I got four things planned for you; your people told me they waiting on you to mess up anyway."
White was not arrested then, but was taken in a week later for violating his probation, and was in jail Thursday evening.
Two days later, Mitchell stopped Caldwell, 32, for failing to use a turn signal. When everything else checked out, Mitchell gave Caldwell a verbal warning.
Caldwell reportedly became belligerent, saying essentially because Mitchell is black - like many residents in Harlem Lakes - he should not be arresting people there on drug charges.
"I then stated to Caldwell that my major concern was that of people shooting each other in the neighborhood and that it usually stems from drug deals," Mitchell wrote. "Caldwell stated, 'You can catch a bullet, too, you know. ... You heard me, you can catch a bullet, too, if you keep coming out to Harlem Lakes (expletive) with people, you gonna catch a bullet. You want to be a (expletive), but you want to arrest people, and if you keep it up, you gonna catch a bullet."
Fort Myers Police Chief Doug Baker appealed to a county judge this week to revoke bond for a man accused of threatening an officer's life during a traffic stop.
Memos from Chief Doug Baker to both his staff and Judge Tara Paluck, as well as Officer Mitchell’s memo to the chief and Robert Caldwell’s arrest report (WARNING: Explicit language)
In a letter to Judge Tara Paluck, Baker outlined the July 18 incident when felon Robert Caldwell told Officer Walter Mitchell, "You can catch a bullet, too ... if you keep coming to Harlem Lakes (expletive) with people, you gonna catch a bullet."
It was the second time in a week Mitchell was threatened during patrol. Baker is concerned because Paluck granted Caldwell a $50,000 bond on that charge - despite his criminal history, the seriousness of the charge and the recommendation of Assistant State Attorney Ryan Doyle to revoke bond. Paluck also ordered Caldwell held on $15,000 bond on charges of fraud and larceny.
"I have great concern for my officers, as they may come in contact with him in the future and fear for my officers' safety and other officers in Southwest Florida," Baker wrote to Paluck. "Although $65,000 is above the norm, individuals who continue to prey on society, citizens and police officers should be remanded, and I support the no bond requested by Assistant State Attorney Doyle."
Samantha Syoen, spokeswoman for the state attorney's office, said since the judge's initial decision, prosecutors have filed a motion for pretrial detention, which if approved by the judge would hold Caldwell in custody until his trial. A hearing on that matter is set for today.
Ken Kellum, court operations director for the 20th Judicial Circuit, said Paluck can't comment about her reasoning because it's a pending case. But he said the state attorney's office has the right to request a different bond.
Caldwell, who was released from prison in January after serving one year for cocaine possession and being an accessory after the fact, remained in custody at Lee County Jail as of Thursday night on charges of larceny, fraud and threatening a public servant.
According to Mitchell, the first incident during which he was threatened happened July 16, when he stopped a vehicle for a tag violation.
The driver and passenger were argumentative, and Mitchell realized he had previously arrested passenger Barry Donnell White, 29, "aka B-Boy," on drug charges. As Mitchell was writing the driver a citation, White reportedly shouted, "I can't stand you, that's alright. I got four things planned for you; your people told me they waiting on you to mess up anyway."
White was not arrested then, but was taken in a week later for violating his probation, and was in jail Thursday evening.
Two days later, Mitchell stopped Caldwell, 32, for failing to use a turn signal. When everything else checked out, Mitchell gave Caldwell a verbal warning.
Caldwell reportedly became belligerent, saying essentially because Mitchell is black - like many residents in Harlem Lakes - he should not be arresting people there on drug charges.
"I then stated to Caldwell that my major concern was that of people shooting each other in the neighborhood and that it usually stems from drug deals," Mitchell wrote. "Caldwell stated, 'You can catch a bullet, too, you know. ... You heard me, you can catch a bullet, too, if you keep coming out to Harlem Lakes (expletive) with people, you gonna catch a bullet. You want to be a (expletive), but you want to arrest people, and if you keep it up, you gonna catch a bullet."