LEBANON — The Middletown man accused of killing a Warren County Sheriff’s deputy during a high-speed police chase apologized to the dead man’s family following his arraignment.
“I want to apologize to the family,” said Marcus Anthony Isreal, 22, as he was being taken to a waiting cruiser following his arraignment Thursday afternoon in Lebanon Municipal Court.
“I want to make sure they are OK,” Isreal added.
Judge Mark Bogen set a $1 million bond for Isreal, 22, of Middletown, who is accused of killing Sgt. Brian Dulle early Tuesday morning during a high-speed police chase through northern Warren County.
During the short arraignment, city Prosecutor Matt Graber cited Isreal’s past criminal history and prison sentences in asking the court to find him as a flight risk and a danger to the community as well as asking for the highest bond possible to be set.
Isreal has served more than 2½ years in prison since the age of 16 on drug and robbery convictions.
As Isreal stood in court in an orange jumpsuit and in restraints, Graber asked for a cash bond and to not allwo 10 percent to be posted.
Bogen set the bond as Isreal’s family sat in the front row of the small courtroom. He also set a preliminary hearing date of May 19, but said in all likelihood, he did not expect that will be held.
Isreal is charged with involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony, and for failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony.
The Warren County grand jury will be presented evidence in the case Friday and Isreal will likely be bound over to Common Pleas Court.
Fornshell said there could potentially be additional charges handed down following the grand jury session.
Sheriff Larry Sims said since the tragedy of Dulle’s death, everyone has been looking for some positives to start the healing process.
Sims said the arraignment will help to lift the spirits of Dulle’s family and deputies at the Sheriff’s Office.
Some have questioned why Isreal was charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Fornshell said aggravated vehicular homicide is actually a lesser crime, punishable for up to eight years in prison. The involuntary manslaughter charge carries a potential 10 year penalty.
“You look at the title of the section (of the Ohio Revised Code) and you think that a particular offense is more severe because it has the word aggravated in front of it and that makes it more severe than something that says involuntary,” he said. “But when you look at what the penalty is and you see the penalty is more for what sounds like a lesser charge.”
Funeral arrangements have been set for Dulle. Visitation is open to the public from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday at Christ’s Church at Mason, 5165 Western Row Road, Mason. The funeral will be held at the church at noon on Saturday
Staff Writers Greg Lynch and Denise G. Callahan contributed to this story.
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