Judge Denies Request To Lower Road Rage Suspect's Bond
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - The suspect in a road rage crash in Aurora that seriously injured a motorcyclist asked to have his bond reduced on Thursday.
Michael Christopher Hall, 25, asked to have the bond dropped to $10,000, but the judge kept it at $50,000, saying he felt it should be even higher.
Jonathan Luna, 26, of Thornton was seriously injured in last Sunday's incident. Police say Hall was having a dispute with Luna when the passenger jerked the wheel of the car, crashing into the motorcycle and forcing both vehicles to roll over on northbound Interstate 225.
Family and friends of Hall came to court to support him. They claim it's not in Hall's nature to do the things police say he did.
"It is not in his character to hurt anyone. He is very helpful, very caring gentleman," said Hall family friend Jerry Davis.
On Monday Luna was listed in fair condition. Court documents show he suffered a broken foot, ankle and a punctured lung. He released a statement saying he was "feeling well considering the extent of my injuries."
The driver of the car, Danielle Marie Buffum, 24, was also injured. Buffum is recovering from her injuries at home. The Arapahoe County District Attorney's Office says the case is still under investigation and they have not yet determined if Buffum could be facing charges as well.
In court documents, Hall told police Buffum was changing lanes when she noticed another car to her left and swerved into the motorcycle.
Buffum told family members that they were being taunted by a number of motorcyclists riding together.
"She indicated they were poppin' wheelies, blocking her out and someone was riding up on the right of her. She was already in the right hand lane," said Hall's sister Andrea Hall. "She tried to get out of the situation but couldn't and that's when the accident happened."
Jason Pfeiffer, a witness to the crash, told police a different story. He said he saw Hall grab the steering wheel and jerked the car into Luna.
"It looked like something with purpose," said Pfeiffer.
District Attorney George Brauchler said the charges fit this type of road rage, "There are a myriad number of places you can have an argument or discrepancy or heated conversation about what happened on the road but northbound I-225 is not one of them."
Luna does have an extensive arrest record that includes DUIs, drug possessions, careless driving and driving with a suspended license.
Hall remains in custody.
