MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder following a standoff with police where shots were fired has been released from jail on his own recognizance.
Christopher Smith was arrested on November 11 after the 12-hour standoff with police. He was also charged with intentionally evading arrest in an automobile and vandalism between $10,000 and $60,000.
Smith was released from jail with no bond by Judge Bill Anderson.
The decision to release Smith came despite concerns from District Attorney Steve Mulroy.
“Here is someone who shot at three police officers, led a high-speed chase, a 12-hour standoff, so clearly this is something creates public safety concerns,” Mulroy said.
Mulroy says he believes Judge Anderson made this decision because there seems to be an indication that Smith needs mental health treatment.
“While we have no objection to him (Smith) getting the medical evaluations, we want to do that in a safe and secure environment where there’s no chance he gets back into the public until he gets the help he needs,” Mulroy said.
State Sen. Brent Taylor slammed the release calling Smith “a threat to public safety.”
Mulroy said his office will appeal the decision.
“We’re basically saying we disagree with what the General Sessions court did regarding the bail decision. And we believe it’s sufficiently problematic and we should take the unusual steps of appealing to you the criminal court and asking them to overturn it,“ Mulroy said.
During the standoff on Lakeview Road, police said Smith threatened to kill the officers and fired shots at them. His mother told police Smith was a veteran who was dealing with a mental illness.
In a letter to Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy, State Senator Brent Taylor questioned Smith’s release, calling him “a threat to public safety as evidenced by firing at police officers” during the standoff.
“Judge Anderson continues to exhibit a blatant disregard for TCA 40-11-115(a), which
elevates the safety of the community as the first consideration of bail,” said Senator Taylor.
Tuesday night, D.A. Mulroy told WREG that his office disagrees with the judge’s decision in this case.
“We opposed the defendant’s release on his own recognizance. We asked that the $200,000 bond, I believe, stay in effect and, as a matter of fact, will be appealing that decision by filing a risk in criminal court.”
During negotiations with Smith, the MPD’s TACT Unit deployed their robot to get a closer look at the suspect, but Smith allegedly shot the robot and then ran it over with his car.
Police say the robot costs $60,000 and is now unusable.
Smith is scheduled to be back in court on December 3.