DETROIT (WWJ) -- Detroit Police Chief James Craig is upset with a local judge's decision to let a "high-level" drug dealer walk on low bond and has since vanished.
Jose Lopez, 24, was arrested after police received a tip that he planned to deal more than four kilograms of heroin and two kilos of cocaine. When he was arrested, Lopez -- a non-U.S. citizen from Mexico -- had more than 1,000 grams of each of those drugs in his car.
He was arraigned on March 2 in Romulus before visiting Magistrate Vesta Swenson, who allowed Lopez to walk after posting just $200 bond.
Officials say Lopez has since fled, skipping a probable cause hearing on March 12.
Craig says as a Mexican national, Lopez was a flight risk and should have been kept in jail.
"We're talking about a high, mid-level drug dealer who comes to our city, transporting 1,000 grams of heroin and 1,000 grams of cocaine, which could result in consecutive life sentences," Craig said at a press conference Thursday. "And the judge did not see that this was a flight risk."
Craig says he's looking into reports that the suspect may have been deported before. He said he is taking part of the blame because he didn't have a detective at the March 2 hearing, but said the judge still should have made the decision to detain Lopez because all the information on the man's alleged crimes was in the court report.
"We know the horror story where another judge made a decision when officers were fired upon, a decision was made to place that suspect on a tether," Craig said. "I didn't agree with that. And there have been other cases. So this is a problem."
Craig was referencing the case of Ivory Traylor, who had a criminal past and was accused of shooting at Detroit police officers. The decision was highly criticized by both police and prosecutors.
Assistant Police Chief David LeValley told the Detroit News the department has seen problems with low bonds on the weekends in Romulus in front of visiting judges -- sometimes "absurdly low," considering the crimes being charged.
Assistant prosecutors and police are often at weekday arraignments to argue for higher bonds or jail remands for defendants considered to be flight risks. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement she isn't always afforded that luxury on weekend hearings because she doesn't have the manpower to send assistant prosecutors to the courts.
"The judge had everything she needed to make a decision about bond: the fact that he was a resident of another country, investigator's report showing the nature and seriousness of the charges, his prior offenses in order to fashion an appropriate bond, and failed to do so," the statement said. "What amounts to a $200 bond is completely inappropriate and irresponsible in this case. Predictably he failed to appear at his March 12th Probable Cause Conference and is now a fugitive."
Investigators believe Lopez may have returned to his native Mexico.
