A Colorado man accused of leading El Cajon police on a high speed chase, which ended in the death of his girlfriend, will be held on $2 million bail, a judge ordered Thursday.
Geoffrey Sims, 34, pleaded not guilty to six felony counts, including murder, during his video arraignment in El Cajon. Deputy District Attorney Jihan Yacoub requested the $2 million bail because Sims, she said, is a danger and a flight risk.
“We know he had fled Colorado while a case was pending and a warrant served,” said Yacoub.
Early Sunday morning, the prosecutor said Sims created a dangerous situation by prompting a police pursuit that reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour.
It started when El Cajon police officials pulled over the suspect, who was riding with three other people and a dog in a stolen red Toyota, near Walter Way and Main Street. However, when officers walked up to the vehicle, Sims hit the gas and drove north on Second Street. Yacoub said he drove onto the freeway and ran at least six red lights on surface streets.
Finally, the car turned onto South Pierce Street, which ends in a cul-de-sac.
When he reached the dead end, police said Sims made a U-turn to face pursuing officers. El Cajon Police Officer Samson Pak got out to approach the stolen car, but Sims started driving toward him.
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Fearing for his life, he said, Pak opened fire, striking Kelsey Rose Hauser, 25, of Conifer, Colorado, who was sitting in the passenger seat. She died from the gunshots, as did a pit bull sitting in her lap.
Sims and the two other men inside were uninjured. The prosecutor said Sims continued to drive the car forward, ramming it into another police vehicle approaching the scene.
Officers were then able to take all three surviving suspects into custody.
Sims now faces charges of murder, assault with a deadly weapon, evading an officer, resisting an officer using force, reckless driving and possession of a stolen vehicle.
“He had created a highly dangerous situation,” said Yacoub. “He put the officer in a position where he feared for his safety and the safety of other officers, and essentially he would be liable for murder based on the resulting death for the situation he created.”
Hauser also had a warrant out for her arrest. In a statement, her family said Hauser never hurt anyone and had a "kind heart, an easy smile."
Attending Sims’ arraignment was Brian Blafield, who was in the car during the incident. He is out on bail after he was charged with drug violations.
Blafield asked members of the media at court to pay him $20 each for an interview. As he walked away, he would only say police should not shoot into a car. He did not respond when asked why Sims allegedly tried to ram a police officer.
