A bond hearing occurred today for Garret Rolfe, the former Atlanta Police Department officer who shot and killed Rayshard Brooks.
What We Know:
- Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jane Barwick has granted Rolfe bond in the amount of $500,000. The following includes the breakdown of charges and bond associations:
- Felony Murder: $250,000
- Violation of oath, no Miranda rights read during arrest: $20,000
- Criminal damage to property: $10,000
- Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for Brooks and three witnesses: $35,000 per four charges, totaling $140,000
- Violation of oath, failure to render medical aid: $20,000
- Violation of oath, the shooting of Rayshard Brooks: $20,000
- Aggravated assault, kicking Rayshard Brooks after the shooting: $20,000
- Violation of oath, a taser being shot at Rayshard Brooks: $20,000
- Rolfe’s bond comes with the following stipulations:
- He must wear an ankle monitor, the monitor will be at his expense.
- A curfew will be in place from 6 PM to 6 AM with the exceptions of work, legal, or medical needs.
- His passport must be surrendered.
- Possession of or carrying of any firearms or other weapons intended for harm is prohibited.
- Must not have any contact with the family members of Rayshard Brooks or any other witnesses, including the three other victims in the case.
- May not have any contact with any police officers.
- Bill Thomas and Noah Pines, attorneys for Rolfe, argued that he was not a flight risk and presented 28 letters from character witnesses. Within their statements they requested a $50,000 to $100,000 bond for Rolfe, comparing his case to that of the other accused officer Devin Brosnan.
- Clinton Rucker, executive assistant district attorney for Fulton County, rebutted the statements of Thomas and Pines, arguing that Rolfe was indeed a flight risk with no ties to the community, has not presented the passcode for his phone for text message retrieval, no unemployment, and poses a risk of witness tampering and influence. Rucker noted the texts they are trying to retrieve are the four messages Rolfe sent to fellow officers immediately following the shooting.
- After the attorney’s statements, Tomika Miller, Brooks’ widow, made an emotional victim statement requesting the judge to deny bond due to her mental state and for her emotional health and well-being.
- Judge Barwick granted bond after making a statement to Mrs. Miller expressing her limited ability in the matter before her. “I want to be clear that what is before me is a very small piece to a long process.” She continued stating, “I want to thank you Mrs. Miller because it takes courage to make the statement you made in the manner you did.”
The full video of the bond hearing can be viewed below. We will continue to provide updates on this case as they are made available.
