SUPERIOR COURT
A history of fleeing from law enforcement is not helpful when arguing that a client is “no risk of flight” in a bond hearing.
Cameren Dillon Freeman, 23, was arrested May 12 and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of firearm or knife during commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies and misdemeanor obstruction of law enforcement officers.
Freeman was in Jones County Superior Court July 13 represented by defense attorney Joseph Anfield-El seeking a bond.
The crime for which Freeman is charged occurred Dec. 9, 2022. He remained at large after fleeing from Jones County Law Enforcement officers and was not returned to Jones County until May 12.
The bond hearing was in front of Superior Court Judge Stephen Bradley, and District Attorney Wright Barksdale prosecuted the case. At the conclusion of the hearing, Bradley denied bond.
Barksdale told the court that law enforcement attempted a traffic stop on Freeman, who ran away on foot.
“He was on the run quite a while. When Bibb County tried to arrest him, he jumped out of a window naked and ran. He was found several blocks away,” the DA said.
The prosecutor said Freeman has been flight risk in multiple cases and is a risk to commit further crimes. Nevertheless, Anfield-El said his client was not a flight risk because of his ties to the community. He said Freeman’s family is in Bibb County, and he has a clothing line. The attorney said his client has a plea agreement in the pending Bibb County cases.
“Mr. Freeman has no criminal history and is ready to move his life forward,” Anfield-El said.
He added that his client had been in custody since May 9.
After listening to the arguments of the attorneys, Bradley said he found that Freeman was a risk of flight.
“I’m not comfortable granting a bond,” he said.
Crime report
A report of the Dec. 9, 2022, traffic stop leading to the Jones County charges by JCSO Investigator Barron Hall stated he was following a vehicle on Joycliff Road and observed it initiating a turn on Baker Road and almost hitting another vehicle head-on.
The investigator said he was advised by dispatch that the vehicle was uninsured. It was registered to Freeman, and he was wanted. Hall said he activated his lights in an attempt to stop the vehicle and was assisted by Sgt. Kasey Carr.
He said the driver turned into a mobile home and stopped in front of one of the trailers. Hall said he and Carr exited their vehicles to make contact with the driver. He said Freeman immediately began backing away from them and then started running. The investigator said the suspect yelled at an individual in the house to get everything out of the car.
The investigator said they pursued him but were not successful in catching Freeman. When they returned to the suspect’s vehicle, Hall said he saw a pistol in plain view, along with a set of digital scales. He said a search of the vehicle revealed a large quantity of marijuana and individual sandwich baggies.
Hall said all the evidence was secured and warrants secured for Freeman’s arrest.
