Court Watching: Sumpter hit-and-run driver with 2 fatalities due in court June 28

David Armando Palacios-Sanchez, 44, of Detroit, was present before 34th District Court Judge Lisa Martin by zoom from the Wayne County Jail on June 14 for his probable cause conference on five charges concerning the deaths of two women in a hit and run on May 28 in Sumpter Township. A Spanish interpreter was on hand to translate the proceedings for the defendant.
Defense attorney Raed Walid Mourad said he just got the discovery that morning and one more piece is coming. He asked for the case to be adjourned for two weeks.
They will be back for the probable cause conference on June 28, but it will be with Chief Judge Brian Oakley who requires the cases to be live in his courtroom. Judge Martin said she was told the county won’t transport a defendant for just a probable cause conference, so it will likely be by zoom.
The defendant is being held on $500,000 cash bond and his attorney asked for a reduction to $100,000 cash/surety and a GPS tether. Mourad said the defendant has lived in Michigan for 15 years, been married to his wife for 23 years and has four children: a set of 3-year-old twins, a 14-year-old and one who is 19. He has worked in the construction business for the last 23 years, 20 years in one place and for the last three years for Brinker Construction in downtown Detroit.
The Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor on the case, Sara Bonomo, objected to the reduction in bond, since there were multiple eye witnesses to him revving his engine right before pulling out and hitting the victims and both have died. He admitted to drinking and using cocaine on the day of the incident and fled from the area, she said. Multiple police departments worked to find him, including a K-9 unit and a drone. She said he was a danger to the community and flight risk is high.
Judge Martin denied the request to amend the bond, saying along with the seriousness of the offense, there is a probability of conviction.
Samantha Ann Lawson
Samantha Ann Lawson of Taylor has a calendar conference on June 27 at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit. She was charged with assault with intent to murder, discharging a weapon in or at a building, assault with a dangerous weapon (felonious assault) and three counts of felony firearm on April 19 in Van Buren Township.
34th District Court Chief Judge Brian Oakley dismissed the assault with intent to murder charge and one of the felony firearm charges at the May 24 preliminary exam.
Her bond had been set at $75,000 cash, but at circuit court on May 31 it was reduced to personal recognizance bond.
Van Buren Township Deputy Police Chief Joshua Monte said at about 2 a.m. on April 19, his department responded to a residence in the 9100 block of Parkwood Drive in response to multiple calls of gunshots in the area.
Officers were able to locate the female victim, who informed them that the defendant came to her residence to confront her. The two females engaged in a verbal altercation outside the residence, reportedly over Lawson’s former boyfriend.
Lawson reportedly went to her vehicle, retrieved a handgun, and fired at least one shot at the victim’s residence, according to reports. There were multiple people inside the residence, including two children. Deputy Chief Monte said there were no reported injuries.