Former Columbus Police officer Adam Coy post $1 million bond, leaves jail after 6 nights

Courtesy of Dayton 24/7 Now
By Jarrod Clay, Lu Ann Stoia
February 9, 2021

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Protestors and news reporters stood outside the Franklin County Jail Tuesday waiting for Former Columbus Police officer Adam Coy to be released on bond.

Judge Stephen McIntosh reduced a $3 million bond set by a magistrate last week to $1 million.

“Because of the fact if convicted there is a possibility of a life term in prison, the court is imposing a bond that the court believes is a sufficient bond if posted to ensure the defendant’s presence,” McIntosh said.

Coy was escorted from the jail by several bail bondsmen. Coy was masked up, looked straight ahead and had nothing to say as he was whisked away in a waiting pickup truck parked outside the jail.

Protestors chanted “convict that killer cop, convict that killer cop.”

Coy is accused of shooting and killing Hill, an unarmed Black man last December.

Following an investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Investigation, a Franklin County grand jury indicted Coy for murder in the commission of a felony, felonious assault, and two counts of dereliction of duty for failing to turn on his body camera and failing to inform fellow officers that he felt Hill presented a danger.

Coy pleaded not guilty to the charges on Friday.

Michael Wright, attorney for the Hill family said they were disappointed by the ruling.

“The judge has spoken. We will accept this reduction, we are not happy about it,” Wright said.

Defense attorney Mark Collins said the bond was “reasonable.”

Collins said he spent time at the jail with Coy over the weekend.

“He has been in the judicial system for quite some time, an officer 19 years, he respects the judicial system and so will do whatever he has to go day by day,” Collins said.

“Our heart goes out to the family of Andre Hill. There is no doubt our client took the life of Mr. Hill in an on-duty situation, however, the issue in the case will be whether or not his reaction to everything that occurred that evening was reasonable or not,” Collins said.

“Anytime an officer is placed in our system in a split second decision they are not out there to hurt someone on purpose. They are not out there to try to commit an offense,” Collins said.

Hill’s daughter, Karissa Hill, said she believes Coy is a threat to the community and should not have been granted any bond.

“I am my dad. I am him. He is me. That officer, he took my dad away. He didn’t take me away, so I am here fighting for him,” Karissa Hill said.

The Columbus Urban League CEO Stephanie Hightower released a statement that said Coy deserved a high bond. It read in part:

“Today’s decision represents yet another cut, another blow to a gaping wound that cannot heal without dramatic reform to our criminal justice system.”