07/02/1998

Man charged in 7-year-old's death has bond set at $1 million
Judge agrees to return $4,000 seized by police to suspect's family

By Robert Baird
TRIBUNE-REVIEW

An Allegheny County judge set bond at $1 million but granted a defense motion Wednesday to return $4,000 seized from Jamal Tait, the man accused of running down a 7-year-old North Side boy. Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Manning rejected the argument of Assistant District Attorney Edward Borkowski that the money should be kept as evidence in the case against Tait, 22, in the June 22 death of Raymond Michelotti Jr. Borkowski said Tait had $4,000 in his possession to buy marijuana at the time of the accident. Tait is charged with third-degree murder in the death of Michelotti, who was riding his bicycle near his Brighton Heights home when he was struck and killed. Authorities say Tait was speeding away from police when the child was hit. But Manning said the money could be photographed as evidence and returned to Tait's family since no drug-dealing charges were filed. While he granted the motion of Tait's attorney Patrick Thomassey to return the cash, Manning set a consolidated $1 million bond for Tait, of the North Side, in the boy's death and two unrelated pending cases. Thomassey had asked the judge to set "a number I can look at" with the possibility of making bail. "There's a number you can look at," said Manning, who refused Thomassey's request to make it a percentage bond. The judge said the facts of the case made Tait a possible risk of flight. Thomassey filed the motion for return of the cash contending that it belonged to the defendant's mother, Theresa Allen. He said she needs it to pay for expert witnesses in preparation for her son's defense. The defense attorney said he "didn't know the answer" to why Tait had the money in his possession. Manning said he didn't see the advantage in keeping the money as evidence and then having another judge appoint experts at the county's expense because the defendant's family has no money. Police said Tait was on Spruce Run Road in Avalon when he sped down the street, then allegedly flashed a gun at residents when they told him to slow down. After he sped off, Avalon police spotted his vehicle and initiated a pursuit; Bellevue officers joined the chase through commercial and residential areas, police said. Bellevue police said the chase was ended seven blocks short of the intersection where the boy was hit, at Gass Avenue and Beckham Street, North Side. Manning issued an order at Thomassey's request to have police in Avalon, Bellevue and Pittsburgh preserve all radio transmissions recorded during the chase. Borkowski contended that Tait told two teen-agers in his Chevrolet Blazer that "I'm not looking for nickel bags (of marijuana)" and displayed the money, bragging that he had $10,000, which turned out to be far less. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Swan contended yesterday the money was a key piece of corroborative evidence in the case against Tait. He said the District Attorney's Office will file a petition before Manning today for forfeiture of the money and a request for him to reconsider his decision. If Manning refuses to reconsider, Swan said an appeal will be taken to Commonwealth Court, which handles forfeiture cases. Tait also is charged with homicide by vehicle, terroristic threats, causing an accident involving death while not properly licensed, a firearms violation, fleeing and eluding police, four counts of reckless endangerment, two counts of simple assault and 13 traffic violations. - - Longer in Pittsburgh page B6 tait-homicide-michelotti Story 9 of 18 Error! Bookmark not defined. Error! Bookmark not defined.