Inset: Frederick Spears (Arlington police). Background: Home in Arlington, Texas, where Spears allegedly killed his estranged wife (WFAA).
A Texas police department admits it made an error after officers transported a domestic violence suspect back to the crime scene — where he later allegedly killed his estranged wife.
Frederick Spears, 55, is charged with the murder of his wife, 53-year-old Mary Spears, in Arlington. Though estranged, she had let him stay at the residence, according to a press release from the police.
Following a domestic violence arrest on Monday, Frederick Spears was prohibited from returning to the home or contacting family members — yet the police drove him back there.
The agency admitted it erred.
“The department acknowledges that the officers should not have facilitated transportation back to the home,” the police stated. “Moreover, the department is conducting a detailed administrative review to determine if policy and/or procedural changes are needed to prevent such incidents in the future.”
Family members are irate. Ashton Spears, the victim”s son and the suspect’s stepson, spoke with local ABC affiliate WFAA.
“It makes me so mad, and I don’t — I don’t want to ruin the officer’s life or get her in trouble,” he said. “I don’t want any of that, but I do think that everybody needs to know that they brought him back.”
Police initially responded to Mary Spears’ home on Sept. 17 when her husband allegedly argued with Ashton Spears and threatened him with two kitchen knives. Officers arrested Frederick Spears on a charge of aggravated assault family violence. He was released from jail the next day, but an emergency protective order as a bond condition barred him from returning to his wife’s home or contacting her and other relatives.
After his release from custody, the suspect went to the main lobby of the public safety center and asked the officer for a ride back to his wife’s home so he could retrieve his vehicle. An officer arranged for another cop to drive him back to the home. When they arrived, Frederick Spears got into an argument with family members. The officer told the suspect to leave the home, which he did.
On Monday morning, the accused murderer sent a “concerning text message” to another family member. That family member found Mary Spears dead in the backyard of her home with multiple stab wounds. Detectives found that Frederick Spears had allegedly sent text messages to the victim apparently implicating him in the killing.
Police obtained a warrant for Frederick Spears’ arrest, and on Tuesday cops tried to take him into custody. When officers approached, the suspect allegedly took out a knife and began stabbing himself, ignoring officers’ instructions to comply with their orders.
“After officers deployed tasers, less lethal rounds, and a GPPD K9, Mr. Spears finally dropped the knife and was taken into custody,” the press release said. Frederick Spears was then taken to a hospital to receive treatment for his injuries.
He is next slated to be in court on Oct. 8.
