Judge Reduces Bond for Man Accused in Fort Worth Officer Shooting

A Tarrant County judge has reduced the bond amount for a Parker County man accused of attempted murder of a Fort Worth Police officer.
Ed McIver Jr. was back in court a few days after a Tarrant County Grand Jury said there was not enough evidence to move forward with his prosecution. Prosecutors immediately refiled charges against McIver, Jr.
McIver’s bond was originally $2 million. Judge Ruben Gonzalez lowered it substantially on Monday after a writ of habeas corpus hearing. 
McIver Jr. is charged with attempted capital murder, illegal possession of a firearm, and possession of a controlled substance.  
Bond for the attempted capital murder has been set at $12,000 and the other two charges now carry a bond of $2,500 each. 
McIver’s charges stem from a pursuit, shootout, and man hunt on March 15. Fugitive officers were trying to arrest Ed McIver Sr. on warrants out of Parker County, but he fled when officers approached his truck near Central Market in Fort Worth.
The chase ended in far west Fort Worth in a rural area where McIver Jr. ran from police and his for nearly four hours.
Brian Walker, McIver’s attorney, says prosecutors must either get an indictment or be ready for trial within 90 days of someone being held. Monday is day 90, meaning his client should either be released or given an affordable bond.
McIver is indigent and cannot afford any bond. His family and friends might be able to scrap together $10,000.
Tarrant County District Attorneys did not argue about the 90 day mark or the law allowing reasonable bond. They requested several conditions of bond that the judge agreed instituted.
If McIver is able to post bond he must reside in either Tarrant or Parker County. He cannot contact the victim or his family and must surrender his passport, if he has one. McIver would not be allowed to possess any firearms or stay in a location where firearms may be located.
McIver would also have a curfew, based on his employment schedule, and would have to wear a GPS monitor and Scram device. The Scram device detects alcohol in one’s system and McIver will be forbidden to consume alcohol or drugs, unless those drugs are prescribed by a doctor.
The district attorney’s office was not able to comment much about the case after the bond was reduced, as they’re restricted by ethical standards on discussing active cases.
“We will present our evidence to a jury at an appropriate time,” said assistant district attorney Kevin Rousseau. “We feel that Mr. McIver needs a jury trial, we’ve always felt that way and when the time comes we’ll present that evidence to the jury.”
Rousseau says the DA’s office is satisfied with bond conditions.
Walker says he believes his client committed no crime and that the grand jury agreed by saying there was not enough evidence for probable cause.
“We came to court hoping we’d be able to get Mr. McIver out either on his own recognizance or  in an amount that he can afford,”  said Walker. “Whether or not Mr. McIver can make this bonds is yet to be seen.”
 

A Tarrant County judge has reduced the bond amount for a Parker County man accused of attempted murder of a Fort Worth Police officer.

Ed McIver, Jr. was back in court a few days after a Tarrant County grand jury said there was not enough evidence to move forward with his prosecution. Prosecutors immediately refiled charges against McIver, Jr.

McIver’s bond was originally $2 million. Judge Ruben Gonzalez lowered it substantially on Monday after a writ of habeas corpus hearing. 

McIver, Jr. is charged with attempted capital murder, illegal possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance.  

Bond for the attempted capital murder has been set at $12,000 and the other two charges now carry a bond of $2,500 each. 

McIver’s charges stem from a pursuit, shootout and man hunt on March 15.

Fugitive officers were trying to arrest Ed McIver, Sr. on warrants out of Parker County, but he fled when officers approached his truck near Central Market in Fort Worth.

The chase ended in far west Fort Worth in a rural area where McIver, Jr. ran from police and hid for nearly four hours.

Brian Walker, McIver’s attorney, says prosecutors must either get an indictment or be ready for trial within 90 days of someone being held. Monday is day 90, meaning his client should either be released or given an affordable bond.

McIver is indigent and cannot afford any bond. His family and friends might be able to scrap together $10,000.

Tarrant County district attorneys did not argue about the 90 day mark or the law allowing reasonable bond. They requested several conditions of bond that the judge agreed instituted.

If McIver is able to post bond he must reside in either Tarrant or Parker counties. He cannot contact the victim or his family and must surrender his passport, if he has one. McIver would not be allowed to possess any firearms or stay in a location where firearms may be located.

McIver would also have a curfew, based on his employment schedule, and would have to wear a GPS monitor and Scram device. The Scram device detects alcohol in one’s system and McIver will be forbidden to consume alcohol or drugs, unless those drugs are prescribed by a doctor.

The district attorney’s office was not able to comment much about the case after the bond was reduced, as they’re restricted by ethical standards on discussing active cases.

“We will present our evidence to a jury at an appropriate time,” said Assistant District Attorney Kevin Rousseau. “We feel that Mr. McIver needs a jury trial. We’ve always felt that way and when the time comes, we’ll present that evidence to the jury.”

Rousseau says the DA’s office is satisfied with bond conditions.

Walker says he believes his client committed no crime and that the grand jury agreed by saying there was not enough evidence for probable cause.

“We came to court hoping we’d be able to get Mr. McIver out either on his own recognizance or in an amount that he can afford,” said Walker. “Whether or not Mr. McIver can make this bonds is yet to be seen.” 

On Monday, Officer Gordon Jones of Fort Worth Police testified as to what he saw during the vehicle pursuit and foot chase back in March.

Jones was the second vehicle in pursuit, directly behind the lead vehicle driven by Officer Pearce. Jones testified before the judge that he saw Ed McIver, Jr. exit the truck with a shotgun and saw a handgun tucked into his back waistband.

Jones says the manner in which McIver, Sr. exited the truck indicted to him that there would be trouble and a possible deadly force confrontation with the suspects.

During the testimony dashcam footage from Jones' police vehicle was played for the judge, as prosecutors wanted to show that McIver, Jr. was a threat then and should retain a higher bond.

Jones testified that McIver was found lying on his back under some trees and had covered himself with leaves and brush in an attempt to hide. A shotgun was found within two feet of him, but that he was not aggressive toward arresting officers. 

In the video, you can clearly see a subject running into the wooded area after fleeing the pickup truck.

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