Bail Blotter: Safety Concerns for Bondmen on the Rise
- April 30, 2012
- by AboutBail Staff
- In the News
Each week AboutBail combs the web for the latest and most interesting industry news stories to bring you the Weekly Bail Blotter.
Bondsmen Shot
BAKERSFIELD, CA – Bondsmen brothers Brandon and Zachary Sims were looking for suspect Zachary Perrick, who had skipped bail, when they were shot and killed according to the bondsmen’s family. The California bondsmen were reportedly “ambushed.” Perrick and Stephen Stewart were in the home at the time of the shooting and escaped after the shooting. Both men have been in court since the incident.
To read the full article, click here.
Bondsmen and Public Image
HOUSTON, TX – According to a recent news report, many bondsmen are fighting the image of bail bond agents as they are portrayed in the media. While shows like Dog the Bounty Hunter suggest that bounty hunters and bondsmen are tough guys, the reality is that most bondsmen seldom work with guns and a growing number of professionals in the industry are women, according to FOX 26 reporter Tom Zizka.
To read the full article, click here.
Bondsmen Concerned About Unsecured Bonds and Violence
FRESNO, CA – According to local bondsmen and bounty hunters, safety concerns are an issue in the community, and these concerns are even more real after the shooting deaths of two California bondsmen recently. At the same time, jail overcrowding and subsequent releases without bond put more criminals on the streets, according to local bondsmen, and make the community less safe for everyone. Most bondsmen agree that part of the danger of the job is the unexpected nature of it – bondsmen looking for a suspect have no way of knowing whether a target is armed, for example.
To read the full article, click here.
Family of Killed Bail Bondsmen Speak
BAKERSFIELD, CA – Bondsmen Brandon and Zack Sims were recently shot to death while trying to apprehend a man who was skipping bail. Now, the family of the two brothers is speaking out. Janelle Lopez was engaged to be married to Brandon while Zack was married to Carla Sims. Both women have stated that they are shocked by the killings and Carla has also stated that she does not know what to say to the children she shares with Zack. Both women say that they worried about their partners, especially since the men were not allowed to carry weapons without a CCW, and on the night they were killed the Bakersfield bondsmen were not armed with anything more than mace and tasers. The two families are accepting donations through the Bank of America account number 1267119417 to pay for funeral expenses.
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Standoff Involving Bondsmen
WICHITA, KS – Four bondsmen were looking for a woman who had failed to make a court appearance. When the four approached a home on North Hillside, they were confronted by a man who wanted the bondsmen to stop pursuing his girlfriend. At one point, the man allegedly drew a weapon and pointed it at the bondsmen, causing a standoff when bondsmen drew their own weapons. One of the Wichita bondsmen called police and the man confronting the bondsmen left before authorities arrived. Wichita police are investigating the incident.
To read the full article, click here.
Dallas County Bail Bond Board Sets Strict Rules
DALLAS, TX – The Dallas County Bail Bond Board appears to be tightening rules and going after Texas bondsmen who violate those rules. The board recently revoked the bail bond license of a company applying for license renewal. The company, Superior Bail Bonds, reportedly did not disclose unpaid bond forfeitures. The company filed a lawsuit against the board, and that legal action is pending. The new move may come after Dallas County has been accused of not pursuing forfeitures. Since then, the county has created a task force to deal with the problem.
To read the full article, click here.
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