NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A man accused of shooting a North Miami Beach police officer during an identity theft sting walked out of jail overnight.
Elton Bandoo was fit with a GPS ankle monitor and transported by officers to a relative's home, where he must stay under house arrest.
Miami-Dade County Judge Jason Bloch granted Bandoo a $500,000 bond Tuesday after family members posted the required 10 percent of the bail money needed for his release, with collateral money tied up in property in the Bahamas. His family handed over signed documents to the court, allowing the state to put a lien on the property if Bandoo skips town.
Bandoo was charged with attempted murder after allegedly shooting a North Miami Beach police officer, who was helping federal authorities serve an arrest warrant at his home in February. Officer Lino Diaz survived the shooting.
Bandoo claims that he shot the officer in self-defense, thinking his house was being broken into.
Bandoo's mother told Local 10 News reporter John Turchin that she believes her son was set up.
Bandoo, who has no previous criminal history in South Florida, owns a music business that is registered with the state.
Under terms of his pretrial release, Bandoo cannot be in possession of guns, go on the Internet and must surrender his passport.
While Bandoo has not been charged with a federal crime in connection with the warrant originally served at his home, investigators believe that may be coming soon.
If so, Bandoo will likely get another visit by federal agents. However, under law, he wouldn't be entitled to a bond.
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