Robbery Suspect Freed On PR Bond Angers Pasadena Police Chief

PASADENA, TX — The release of an 18-year-old man who was arrested for committing four armed robberies in Pasadena has the police chief seeing red.

Pasadena Police Chief Josh Bruegger expressed his anger and disappointment in a Facebook video after learning that Jakouri Jones had been released on a personal recognizance bond after being charged wroth four counts of aggravated robbery, and aggravated assault.

"What this means is that the defendant was allowed to leave jail, and guarantee his promise to appear, by just his signature," Bruegger said. "Obviously, I am very disappointed with this outcome."

On Jan. 4, police said Jones committed two armed robberies on Jan 4. Two days later, he was arrested for unlawfully carrying a weapon and taken to jail, only to be released on a PR bond.

Officials said Jones had not yet been charged with the first two robberies.

A week after his release, Jones allegedly committed two more armed robberies on Jan. 13, and fired several shots at witnesses who tried to follow him after one of those robberies.

Police said they were looking for Jones, when he allegedly committed the fourth robbery. An officer responding to the call spotted Jones running through the parking lot with a gun and a bag of cash from the Walgreens robbery, Bruegger said.

The officer who was pursing Jones ran over him after police said Jones pointed a gun at him.

Jones was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries and then taken to the Harris County Jail.

On Monday, 230th Criminal Court Judge Chris Morton released Jones on a second PR bond, despite pleas from the Harris County District Attorney's Office for a high bond.

"It's disappointing that we have a defendant charged with multiple violent felonies, that's allowed to walk out of the front doors of the jail, with just his signature that he will appear in court," Bruegger said.

The felonies that Jones is charged with are first degree felonies that carry a sentence of 5-99 years if found guilty.

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