A North Carolina lady accused of plowing her automobile right into a cop in a brazen, caught-on-camera assault was freed on bond simply hours after her arrest – a “very irritating” transfer that has police fuming.
Tanaezah Michelle Austin, 25, posted a $3,000 bond and was again on the streets hours after she was jailed for slamming her black Kia Optima right into a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer as cops tried to interrupt up a “avenue takeover” in Charlotte on March 1, in keeping with an arrest affidavit obtained by Fox Information.
Police mentioned the officer was standing in entrance of the automobile ordering Austin to cease when she allegedly hit the fuel and sped off amid mayhem unfolding in a Harris Teeter car parking zone round 3:25 a.m.
“Once I hear about somebody being launched on a $3,000 bond for working over a police officer on video, it boggles my thoughts,” mentioned Randy Sutton, a retired police lieutenant and founding father of The Wounded Blue, the outlet reported.
“In actuality, which means she could have solely needed to put up about $300. She ran over a cop, and he or she walked out. This wasn’t an accident. She noticed him, he was speaking together with her after which she simply gunned the automobile towards him. This might have been a deadly encounter.”
Harrowing footage shared on social media confirmed the automobile barrel into the uniformed officer, sending him rolling over the hood earlier than stumbling and miraculously touchdown on his ft as she fled.
The cop was taken to the hospital and handled for minor accidents, police mentioned.
Austin was arrested the next day and thrown behind bars for felony assault with a lethal weapon on a authorities official. She was launched later that day, the outlet reported.
“To see a $3,000 bond for an offender, no matter whether or not she has a prison historical past or not, when the intent to flee was clearly there, is pathetic,” Dan Redford, president of the Charlotte Fraternal Order of Police, mentioned.
“It’s very irritating. There are legal guidelines on the books which might be supposed to guard legislation enforcement officers from these heinous assaults. When officers see this handled like simply one other incident, it makes them query whether or not they’re actually supported, particularly by members of the prison justice system.”
Redford warned morale sinks when the justice system doesn’t have officers’ backs.
US Rep. Mark Harris additionally blasted the incident, calling Austin’s bond a “full slap within the face” to legislation enforcement for letting somebody accused of mowing down an officer stroll free so rapidly, Fox reported.
“Operating over a police officer is of the very best degree of evil,” the North Carolina GOP pol mentioned.
“It’s additionally a whole slap within the face for our courageous legislation enforcement to see these sorts of criminals allowed proper again on the streets. When is Charlotte going to finish the crime cycle? When are magistrates going to maintain dangerous guys behind bars? Sufficient is sufficient!”
Austin is reportedly due again in court docket on March 24.
