Sgt. John Stacke and Shannon Stacke
Jonathan and Shannon Stacke in happier times
SAVAGE, Minn. - Sergeant First Class Jonathan Stacke spent Tuesday continuing his recovery from a broken jaw and lost teeth.
At the same time, the National Guard Iraq veteran wonders how the man who may have thrown a metal vice through the windshield of his army vehicle on February 27 could be bailed out of jail twice in two days in two separate incidents in two different states.
"I have no idea what the guy is thinking," said Jon Stacke, 31. "I would like to know what his mind frame is, if he is mentally all there or just kind of what is going on with the guy."
While Stacke is curious, his wife, Shannon, is furious. Her husband faces months of bone grafts for his jaw and then dental implants to replace lost teeth.
"I was very angry. I was outraged. I did not take it quite as lightly as Jon. To hear that he got out again, you just kind of think: what next? I mean what would it take to keep him locked up and keep everybody on the streets safe?" wondered Shannon Stacke.
Garret Parks, 39, of Bloomington was arrested in the Stacke case on Friday. After two nights in the Bloomington and Hennepin County lockups, Parks met the $50,000 bond and left jail Sunday morning.
Less than a day later, Parks was arrested again. This time the Sunday evening incident was in Polk County, Wisconsin and this time, Parks was charged with a felony. Yet, again, Parks met his bail and left the Polk County jail.
Parks allegedly led police on a high speed chase through the county, reaching speeds of 80 miles per hour, according to police records. When officers finally forced Parks to stop, he was described as "intoxicated" and police recommended charges of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving and Resisting Arrest.
However, pending lab results, Parks was charged with just one felony, Fleeing from an Officer.
That crime carries a potential penalty upon conviction of a fine up to $10,000 and a jail term of up to three years, 6 months. Other charges may follow.
According to the Polk County District Attorney's office, there is a limit of $10,000 for cash bail in the single charge of Fleeing from an Officer. The D.A. sought $5,000 bail, but the judge set bail at $2,500.
University of Saint Thomas Law Professor Mark Osler explained that bail is at the discretion of the judge. "Many of them just work off a score sheet, basically. That, if you come in for a certain crime, they are going to have a price and that is what the bail amount will be," explained Osler. "The thing about bond and bail is that, in many states, and this is true in Minnesota, you have a right to bail."
Osler said bail usually is about the crime, not the defendant. "And where you have a relatively minor crime, even it is the 200th relatively minor crime that is going to be a predominating factor in setting that amount."
Bail, under the American system is designed to guarantee the defendant's appearance in court, rather than keeping the individual behind bars.
As of late Tuesday, no charges had been filed by Hennepin County against Garret Parks in the Stacke injury incident.
Funds have been set up to aid Jonathan Stacke in the expensive facial reconstruction surgery. At any TCF Bank office, a donation may be made to the "SFC Jonathan Stacke Benefit." Donations can also be made at an online fund.
(Copyright 2012 by KARE. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)