How did man accused of trying to kill detective get out of jail so quickly?

NORWOOD. N.C. — A man accused of trying to kill a Norwood police officer bonded out of jail just hours after the incident and now Channel 9 has learned he's been charged with violent crimes in the past.

The incident began just before 9 p.m. Friday night near Norwood Elementary School when Detective Michael Hodgson pulled over a car.

Hodgson stopped Robinson, for having a defective headlight, and was then pulled into the car by Robinson, who sped away with the door still open, officials said.

Hodgson held on with his legs dangling outside of the moving vehicle at speeds estimated above 80 mph, while Robinson continued to kick, punch and fight him, officials said.

“He was trying to physically harm me and/or kill me. I think he was trying to kill me,” Hodgson told Norwood officials in an audio recording obtained by Channel 9. "He had to have been rolling at least 70, 80, 90 miles an hour with my legs dangling out (of) the car."

Officials said Robinson told Hodgson that “when they got to the bridge, they would both die.”

“The suspect told Detective Hodgson, ‘I'm going to kill you tonight and I'm going to kill myself and I'm going to run us off the bridge," Norwood Police Chief James Wilson said.

Officials said as they approached the Rocky River Bridge south of Norwood, Robinson appeared to be intentionally directing the vehicle into the bridge, but Hodgson wrestled the steering wheel left as they approached the bridge to stay on the roadway.

At one point, Hodgson stunned Robinson with a Taser, got control of the steering wheel and forced the car off the road onto Highway 52 in Anson County.

Officials said the car drove over an embankment, went airborne, clipped trees, and came to a stop in a private backyard.

Hodgson ran after Robinson and tackled him before other officers assisted in the arrest.

Robinson faces charges of assault to a law enforcement officer with a firearm, attempted first-degree murder, injury to personal property, resisting a public officer, kidnapping, and trafficking in cocaine, among others.

But, despite a $750,000 bond, Robinson was in jail for less than 12 hours. He paid a bail bondsman 10 percent, or $75,000, to get out.

Robinson has been charged in the past with assault inflicting serious injury and assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly shooting into a home with people inside. However, it appears those charges were dropped because prison records show he's never been convicted of a crime.

As of now, the only charges that state law allows for no bond are first-degree murder and some domestic violence offenses.

Norwood town administrator John Mullis said he is now pushing for a change in state law so that someone charged with trying to kill a law enforcement officer is held without bond - at least for a reasonable amount of time until a higher judge or district attorney can review the case.

"I don't want to interfere with due process. I don't want to interfere with anyone's rights, but I think that maybe there needs to be a cooling off period," he offered.

Cox Media Group