Judge revokes bond for man charged in murder

BRIDGEPORT — A judge revoked the bond Friday of a New Haven man arrested for allegedly having a loaded gun in his car while free on bond on murder charges.

Superior Court Judge Kevin Russo agreed to revoke the $2 million bond on Raashon “Red Dreads” Jackson at the urging of State’s Attorney Joseph Corradino who argued the 31-year-old had violated the conditions of his release and is a danger to the community.

“I can not come up with any other method to protect the community,” the judge said.

Revoking a bond is a rare occurrence in Connecticut courts and can only be done under state law if prosecutors can show the defendant violated terms of the bond or the defendant is a danger to the community.

Jackson had been free on $1 million bond while he awaits to be retried on murder and assault charges.

On Wednesday, state police said they found a gun loaded with a high-capacity magazine in a car Jackson was driving at high speed on Route 8.

The next day, Superior Court Judge Nididi Moses ordered Jackson held in lieu of $2 million bond.

But during a hearing Friday afternoon, Trooper Matthew Losh testified that the car Jackson was driving had a fake license plate and Jackson appeared nervous as he initially talked to the trooper.

Losh said Jackson took off running as other troopers came to the scene. Jackson was apprehended after jumping from a highway overpass.

Jackson and Roderick “Little Ricky” Rogers were accused of spraying bullets into a crowd of men and teens at the corner of Reservoir and Grandview avenues in 2013.

In November 2017, a jury found Rogers and Jackson guilty of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and four counts of first-degree assault with a firearm. Jackson was sentenced to 55 years in prison while Rogers was given a 45-year term.

However, in February 2020, the state Supreme Court ordered a new trial for Jackson, ruling that the trial judge abused his discretion when he allowed prosecutors to call as a witness an expert on cellphone locations late in the case, preventing the defense from getting an expert of its own to refute the evidence.

Court records show that Jackson has previous gun and drug convictions.