Man Accused Of Running Over Woman Denied Bond
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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - A Tamarac man is under arrest for allegedly running over a woman twice following an argument.
Lawton Cohen, 53, is charged with first degree murder.
"A man who is a sex offender, who is out of jail right now on bond or release for reckless driving, aggravated battery, fleeing the police, multiple drug charges probably would not, the court would never use discretion or allow him to be out on the street," said Broward Circuit Judge John "Jay" Hurling during a bond court hearing. "You'll be held without bond until further order of the court."
Cohen was behind the wheel of a Dodge pick up truck in the parking lot of Rocky's Food Store on Hammondville Road when he got into an argument with 55-year old Barbara Sapp.
In the midst of the heated argument, Cohen put the truck into drive, drove forward and Sapp fell to the ground.
Cohen allegedly backed the vehicle up over her, then put the vehicle in drive and drove over her a second time then sped off.
"He then put his truck in reverse running over the victim, then placing the truck in forward, running over the victim a second time" said the prosecutor during the bond hearing.
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Sapp's boyfriend was shocked to find her on the ground because he'd been with her minutes earlier.
"I told her 'I'll be right back.' I wasn't even gone five minutes. I come back and the love of my life was laying down," said Freddie Hall.
Emergency crews rushed Sapp to Broward Health North Hospital where she later died.
On Monday, Sapps family was still trying to come to grips with their loss.
"They took a big chunk out of my heart," said Sapps' daughter Ledena Roberts.
"I feel the hurt of what he did but I forgive him," said another of Sapps' daughters Rosa Roberts, "I'm not going to forget it."
Cohen reportedly told detectives during questioning that he didn't realize he had run over Sapp when he drove off.
In 1991, Cohen was convicted of sexual battery, robbery and grand theft auto. He was sentenced to 15 years.
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