Bond Raised For Texas Officer Charged With Teen's Murder
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FARMERS BRANCH (CBSDFW.COM) - Dallas County district judge Ernie White doubled the bond for Farmers Branch police officer Ken Johnson from $150,000 to $300,000.
Johnson is charged with murdering Jose Cruz, 16, and the DA's office said he now has one to two days to pay the higher bond or police will arrest him again.
Community activist Carlos Quintinilla has joined Cruz's mother, Ana Henriquez-DeEscriche in her fight for justice.
"She's a little happy they addressed the issue. She's not happy the bond was so low that he was able to bond out so quickly," said Quintinilla.
"She says she wants him behind bars. She doesn't want him committing this kind of crime against other children. Her son did not deserve to die and in the manner that he died."
Officer Johnson's bond sparked controversy after a magistrate in the Dallas County jail lowered the district judge's original bond. The judge has not returned repeated phone calls from CBS11 News.
Besides murder, Johnson is also accused of aggravated assault in the shooting of Edgar Rodriguez, 16.
Police said while off-duty, the officer saw both teens trying to burglarize a vehicle in an Addison apartment complex. Authorities said Johnson violated his department's policy by chasing them in his personal vehicle.
Johnson's lawyer has said there was a fight at the time of the shooting and that his client feared for his life.
Meantime, Johnson will have to surrender his passport and weapon and he must remain in Dallas County. But the judge ruled he won't have to wear an ankle monitor as requested by prosecutors.
Dallas District Attorney Susan Hawk met with Henriquez-DeEscriche and Quintinilla.
"She's very happy for this day that she could meet with the DA," said Quintinilla about Henriquez-DeEscriche's reaction to the meeting. "What she wants is justice for her son," he said.
Cruz's family had to borrow around $10,000 for the teen's funeral. "She never expected this pain, so big, so huge, said Quintinilla about he families loss, both personal and financial.
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