A judge denied bond Tuesday for Vernon Cratic Jr., the parolee accused of shooting a deputy in the face and 25 other offenses related to his Nov. 10, 2022 arrest.
Deputies responding to reports of a disturbance at a Bungalow Road home last year encountered Cratic, who started shooting at them, according to prior reports. In the exchange, Deputy Michael Cole was shot in the jaw.
Cratic surrendered to SWAT members nearly two hours later. Cole survived but encountered substantial expenses from missing work.
Tuesday, Cratic’s public defender Greg Gelpi asked Superior Court Judge Jesse Stone to grant Cratic a bond.
Gelpi likened the incident to “swatting” in which police are summoned under false pretenses to a scene. When they arrived, “no one said, ‘This is the police,’” Gelpi said.
Assistant District Attorney Deshala Dixon said the thrice-convicted felon shot out a window at deputies while stating “I’ve got something for you.” His criminal history indicates a strong likelihood he will reoffend, she said.
Cratic was on parole for burglary. His April indictment accused him of shooting at 11 different officers, including Cole.
Stone said while Cratic will get his day in court, “we shouldn’t close our eyes to a public safety risk” and denied the bond request.
