VIDEO: Police shooter suspect held on $1 million bond

BROWNSVILLE — A defiant Abraham Mar, accused of shooting Harlingen Police Officer Carlos Diaz several times Wednesday during a traffic stop, was arraigned Friday by Brownsville Municipal Judge Ben Neece on a charge of attempted capital murder. (Click here to watch the video)

Assistant Cameron County District Attorney Sam Smith asked Neece to set bond at $1 million because Mar has nine prior criminal arrests and drove his car into the Rio Grande near Gateway International Bridge in Brownsville while fleeing police.

Neece granted the high bond. The judge reviewed Mar’s legal rights, explaining them to him while Mar’s attorney, Derrick Juarez of Brownsville, listened.

When Neece asked Mar if he was a U.S. citizen, he said no, that he is a Mexican citizen.

But when the judge showed a form that Mar and his attorney could fill out to request assistance from the Mexican consulate, Mar shook his head from side to side.

Mar, 18, is originally from San Luis Potosí, Mexico, but lived in Harlingen long enough to accumulate a lengthy criminal record as a juvenile and adult, Jason Moody, spokesman for the District Attorney’s Office, said.

Mar’s prior offenses included three aggravated assaults, an assault on a public servant, burglary of a habitation, deadly conduct (discharging a firearm at a person), credit card abuse, and escape, Smith said after the hearing.

The last charge was issued this week in Harlingen and Mar had bonded out of jail on that, Smith said.

Most of the prior charges were filed when Mar was a juvenile, Smith said. Mar has not yet been to court on all the charges, Smith said.

“He’s a definite flight risk,” Smith told the judge.

Juarez tried to argue that Mar has ties to the community and asked the judge to set a “more reasonable” bond, but Neece quickly ruled in favor of state prosecutors.

As Mar was led away to jail, he turned toward the battery of media cameras, raised his hands and said, “Viva los Vallucos!”
Los Vallucos, which means “the Valley guys,” is allegedly a Harlingen gang.

Attempted capital murder is a first-degree felony and punishment ranges from 5 to 99 years or life in state prison, the DA’s office said in a statement.

Mar is now being held at Carrizalez-Rucker Detention Center at Olmito, a Cameron County sheriff’s department employees said.