WOODLAND — A Yolo Superior Court judge refused Friday to lower bail for a Stockton man accused of stealing a California Highway Patrol car during his drunken-driving arrest last month.
Robert Lee Collins III already was a twice-convicted felon when, according to authorities, he freed himself from a set of handcuffs, got behind the wheel of the patrol car and led officers on a freeway pursuit from Davis to Sacramento, steering the car toward one officer and ramming another CHP vehicle on Highway 50.
As a result, the 41-year-old Collins faces multiple felony charges including two counts of assault on a peace officer, reckless evading, hit and run with injury, vehicle theft, DUI with injury and possession of an assault weapon in connection with the Dec. 20 incident.
Yolo County prosecutors also have filed several case enhancements in light of Collins’ prior felony “strike” convictions, both out of Contra Costa County. According to court documents, Collins served prison time following a March 2000 conviction for negligent discharge of a firearm, and for assault with a semiautomatic firearm in July 2001.
Collins’ bail has been set at $1.15 million.
During what was scheduled to be a preliminary hearing in the case Friday, postponed until Jan. 21, Deputy Public Defender Steve Betz asked Judge David Reed to lower his client’s bail.
“I understand the allegations are serious,” Betz said, adding that Collins would have family support were he to be released from jail. “Something south of $1 million could ensure his appearance in court.”
Reed declined the request, noting that he was the judge who set Collins’ bail following his arrest, and that the amount reflected the severity of the charges. He said he would reconsider bail after hearing the evidence presented at the preliminary hearing.
In the meantime, Collins remains in Yolo County Jail custody.
— Reach Lauren Keene at lkeene@davisenterprise.net or 530-747-8048. Follow her on Twitter at @laurenkeene