Drunk driving suspect back in custody as officials seek higher bond
A suspected drunk driver accused of killing a Dallas officer is back in custody after prosecutors asked for an increase in his bond.
Sr. Cpl. Jamie Givens. Givens was killed Saturday morning as he assisted with a funeral escort for another officer on Interstate 20 near Bonnie View Road.
Adrian Breedlove is charged with intoxication manslaughter and unlawful carrying of a weapon. His breathalyzer showed a blood alcohol level of .19, more than twice the legal limit.
Breedlove told officers he'd been out celebrating his mother's birthday. During the course of the night, he said he had four 12-ounce Miller Lites, three bottles of Corona and two margaritas. He also told police "he has a personal alcohol limit of 12 drinks, and he won't drive,” and that "he does not feel he was over the limit when he was driving."
The documents also show a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun was found in his passenger's seat.
Breedlove's bail was initially set at $76,000 for the intoxication manslaughter and unauthorized weapon charges. He managed to bond out of jail Sunday morning, sparking outrage from the police association.
“It is reprehensible that Adrian Breedlove, was given a $76,000 bail allowing him to spend less than one day in jail and post a bond of a mere $7,600,” said Dallas Police Association President Mike Mata. “He was out faster than Jamie Given's body had left the ME. That's a slap in the face to every uniformed officer in the city.”
But on Monday, a Dallas County judge granted tentative approval to a motion from the state claiming insufficient bond. Officials requested Breedlove’s bail be increased from $76,000 to $100,000.
Breedlove was taken back into custody and a final decision on a potential increase will happen sometime Tuesday after a psychiatric evaluation.
Court documents show the conditions for Breedlove’s bond increase include a breathalyzer in his car, no use of alcohol or drugs. He is also forbidden from carrying a weapon and must report weekly to bond supervision.
Attorney Pete Schulte, who is also a licensed peace officer and is not connected to the case, said that Breedlove’s bond is appropriate considering the crime was non-intentional and he had no previous criminal history.
“There’s really no way for the district attorney to get involved in that process, it would be improper to do so,” Schulte said.
Attorney George Milner says the magistrates who set bail should follow a bond schedule to ensure impartiality. He says Breedlove's original bond was within those parameters.
“People may be mad at what he did, and quite justifiably so,” Milner said. “But under the law, he is presumed to be innocent. Bail is not to be a form of punishment.”
Givens, 55, was a father of two served and had been an officer with DPD for 32 years. He had been with the motorcycle unit since 2012. Officials said he was just months away from retirement.
A candlelight vigil was held for Givens Monday afternoon at the Central substation. There was a motorcycle placed outside the substation as part of a memorial the public can visit and leave items.
Friends and family said Givens was a man a few words, but it was powerful when he spoke. He was also described as a guy who was always seeking challenges. He spent time in the mounted unit, the tactical response unit and later became a motor jock, which is tough to get into at a 50 percent pass rate.
Some of his close friends in the department were emotional remembering the impact he had on the department.
Away at the Central Patrol was a Harley Davidson Givens had ordered ahead of his retirement. It now sits resting at a garage alongside his fellow DPD officers’ motorcycles.
Givens’ funeral is set for Thursday morning at Prestonwood Baptist Church. Private and public visitations will take place Wednesday.