Worcester Police Criticize Judge For Releasing Shooting Suspect
WORCESTER (CBS) - It is surveillance video, but it looks like it's from a movie.
Police in Worcester say the situation captured on tape is far from the first time the man believed to be the SUV's driver, Hector Pineiro, has been in trouble.
Accused of shooting a man in Fitchburg last January, the 20-year-old Pineiro was again arrested in Worcester last March, five days after the surveillance video was taken. In his vehicle, police say they found marijuana and a loaded .38 caliber revolver. Police are investigating Pineiro's role in the incident captured on tape.
WBZ-TV's Jim Armstrong reports
"Officers did a great job apprehending him," explains Worcester Sargent Kerry Hazelhurst. "He was clearly deemed a threat. He actually had no bail and now he's out on bail. And we find that most frustrating."
Earlier this week, Superior Court Judge Janet Kenton-Walker reviewed the case and set Pineiro's bail at $55,000. He was out of jail that same day.
Worcester Police say Judge Kenton-Walker has a history of offering bail to violent criminals - the same people the police do not want to see back on the streets.
WBZ called judge Kenton-Walker at home Friday night; she did not want to comment.
Said Hazelhurst: "Lately this particular judge has been letting people out on low bail, out on bail period, and back into the streets where the quality of life is affected. We put these people behind bars and they're back out again because bail was set so low and we find that extremely frustrating."
