Bond for a California man was set at $2,000 Friday on charges he tried to rob a uniformed central Illinois police officer and steal his car.
The officer had a gun. The would-be robber did not.Germaine Parker of Pasadena, Calif., was charged with attempted vehicular invasion for an early Thursday incident in which he allegedly tried to force Decatur police officer Dan Hassinger from his Ford Escort.
A Macon County judge set bond Friday at $2,000 and required Parker to post the full amount in cash to be freed from jail. Parker faced on Aug. 11 court appearance on the charge.
Hassinger, still wearing his uniform, had gotten off work and was heading home when a man approached his car as he pulled away from a stoplight.
Authorities said Parker charged to the passenger side but found the door locked. When Parker went around to the driver's side, Hassinger told police he stopped, got out of the car and - after drawing his handgun - ordered Parker to the ground.
"He didn't get much of a chance to threaten anybody," Detective Sgt. Frank Schultz said of Parker, 23, who told police he was in central Illinois visiting relatives.
Schultz said Parker confessed he intended to rob the driver and steal the car.