A capital murder suspect from Dallas went on the run for several days before being recaptured by police on Thursday.
James Moore, awaiting trial for his alleged role in the 2019 robbery of Cafe Delicious and the murder of its owner, Brian Harp Sr., was released on bond on June 17 and fitted with an ankle monitor.
Just hours later, according to court documents obtained by CBS 11, Moore allegedly removed his ankle monitor and disappeared.
“On 6/18/2022 at 1:21 am, a ‘Tamper’ alert registered from the defendant’s GPS monitoring device Indicating that the monitor may have been removed from his leg without authorization. All attempts to contact the defendant have been unsuccessful. As of this writing, the defendant’s whereabouts are unknown,” the documents state.
Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot said authorities found Moore in Northwest Dallas.
Moore is one of four men who allegedly took part in the September 2019 incident at Cafe Delicious on South Lama, participating by “acting as a ‘good eye’ and then becoming the get-a-way driver,” according to court documents.
The group is accused of shooting and killing Harp, who reportedly shielded one of his employees when the group entered and opened fire, per CBS 11.
All four men are awaiting trial. Moore was being held on a $500,000 bond, but a judge lowered the bond to $1,000.
Moore’s bond was lowered by Judge Ernest White in the 194th district court. The court’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
After it was lowered, Moore posted bond, leading to the events of June 17.
The Dallas Police Association claims this is an example of a pattern in the court system.
“They (judges) know good and well they’re going to make that thousand dollar bond, they know good and well they are going to get home and re-offend, but they don’t care about the families that are wrecked, they don’t care about the victims,” Sergeant Michael Mata with the Dallas Police Association told CBS 11.
Records also show that Moore was not in his assigned residence when he took the monitor off.
A motion has been filed to revoke Moore’s bond, with prosecutors calling him “a threat to the peace and safety of the community.”
The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office did not comment on the pending litigation.
