Man suspected of murder faces competency evaluation

After a series of outbursts at previous court hearings, a man accused of beating a man to death had his felony and misdemeanor hearings delayed Monday for a medical evaluation to see if he is mentally competent enough to stand trial.

Tyrell Cooper, 42, has pleaded not guilty to one count of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree burglary, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of threatening with the intent to terrorize, one count of preventing or dissuading a witness to testify by force and one count of elder abuse.

He also has two misdemeanor cases: drunk and disorderly conduct and open display of a fake gun in a public place, as well as a second case for drunk and disorderly conduct.

Cooper remained quiet during his hearing Monday, peering around the court and occasionally at the audience, which contrasts with his behavior at his last hearing earlier this month.

During his arraignment, Cooper kept interrupting the court commissioner and the public defender, insisting he wanted to represent himself and trying to cut a deal. However, the court commissioner, Sally Ackerknecht, told Cooper an arraignment is not the time or place to make a deal with the court.

After Monday’s hearing, Cooper will be evaluated to see if he is mentally competent to stand trial. According to the probable cause statement provided by the Bakersfield Police

Department to the courts, Cooper admitted to officers that sometimes he hears voices of people who are not present.

Cooper was charged with killing Harry Eugene Clark Jr., 66, who died on March 3 in a home in the 200 block of Clyde Street, according to the Kern County coroner’s office.

According to the statement, Cooper punched, bit, strangled and humiliated Clark after believing Clark made disparaging remarks about him. While he was beating Clark to death, Cooper was also pointing a gun at other residents of the home, which was later identified as a prop gun.

Cooper is being held without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 16 to examine the results of the medical evaluation.