Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 8-28-18

Feature
Judge Rejects ‘Stand Your Ground’ Shooter’s Request To Reduce Bond
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last week, Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Joseph Bu- lone denied a bond reduc- tion for a man arrested a man in connection with a fatal shooting last month.
The bond for Michael Drejka, 48, was set at $100,000, but his attorneys said he couldn’t raise the $10,000 to be released. They asked the judge to reduce the bond to $25,000. After hear- ing arguments from both sides, Judge Bulone de- nied the request, stating that the bond fit the crime Drejka is accused of com- mitting.
Drejka was charged with manslaughter with an en- hancement because of the gun. He is accused of fatally
MARKEIS McGLOCKTON
shooting Markeis Mc- Glockton, 28, on July 19th outside the Circle A Store, 1201 Sunset Point Road, in Clearwater.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Drejka became engaged in an altercation with Ms. Bri- tany Jacobs after she
pulled into a handicapped parking space. Ms. Jacobs’ boyfriend, McGlockton, and their 5-year-old son had gone inside the store.
Ms. Jacobs was waiting in the car when she was ap- proached by Drejka. The two became engaged in an argument over Ms. Jacobs parking in the handicap space, police said.
Witnesses alerted the clerk about the argument in the parking lot. At that point, McGlockton went outside the store, and walked over to Drejka. Witnesses told po- lice McGlockton forcibly pushed Drejka and Drejka fell to the ground.
While on the ground in a sitting position, Drejka pulled a handgun and fired one shot at McGlockton, hitting him in the chest. Mc-
MICHAEL DREJKA
Glockton died as a result of his injuries.
Police said McGlockton was between 10 and 15 feet away from Drejka and turn- ing away when the fatal shot was fired.
Prosecutors also said the autopsy showed the bullet entered McGlockton’s left
side and lodged beneath his right armpit. Drejka claimed that he shot because he was in fear.
During the hearing, pros- ecutors challenged the re- duction based on the shooting, past accusations of Drejka’s aggressive behav- ior, and some of the reasons Sheriff Bob Gualtieri made for not arresting him on July 20th, the day after the shooting.
The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney’s Office issued a warrant for Drejka’s arrest on August 13th.
Drejka had a concealed weapon permit at the time of the killing.
The shooting reignited controversy throughout the nation, with many calling for the appeal of the “Stand Your Ground” law.
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