Hall is brought into court
General Sessions Court Judge Lila Statom on Friday set bond at a total $1,201,000 for a man charged in a knife attack at Hamilton Place Mall.
She also directed that if 30-year-old Andrew Morgan Hall makes bond that he not go within five miles of the mall.
The judge said one factor in setting the bond was "to protect the community." She also noted that he was on bond at the time of the offense and had failed to come to court in cases previously.
Judge Statom heard testimony about Hall running out with a stack of blue jeans from J.C.
Penney's, then cutting two loss prevention specialists who were trying to handcuff him and take him back into the store.
Heath Hoskins was able to testify, though he had a severe limp. Keith Langley, who underwent surgery after being stabbed in the chest, is now at home but was unable to come to court.
Loss prevention specialist Hoskins said it was near closing time Jan. 24 when he noticed a man pick up four or five pair of $25 jeans and run toward the door. He said that door was closed, so he went to another door. By that time, he said he and his fellow specialist almost caught him at the door.
They did get him down outside the store, but he said the man began cutting them. He said he was cut in the arm and had a deep leg cut that almost hit a main artery. He said he never saw a knife. He said he and the other specialists both had knives on them, but did not use them.
Investigator Daniel Francis said video at the mall caught much of the incident and gave officers the tag number on the white Ford Focus he was driving. He is seen driving to and from the store, taking the jeans and in the scuffle with the specialists, it was stated.
The tag was traced to Stephanie Powell, but the detective said Hall had been driving the same vehicle when he picked up some prior infractions.
The case was bound to the Grand Jury on charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and theft.
Judge Statom raised the attempted murder bonds from $400,000 to $500,000 and the aggravated assaults from $50,000 to $100,000. Theft stayed at the same $1,000.
With attorney Dan Ripper