A person wished in Arkansas for allegedly violating his probation in a 2017 homicide case has twice been arrested and jailed in Denver since 2021, and each occasions, Denver authorities have needed to launch him from custody. In the latest case in 2023, an Arkansas sheriff refused to have Raffiel Walker, 35, extradited to his state.
Because of Walker remaining free in Denver, a mom believes Walker bought her son fentanyl in 2023, contributing to her son’s overdose loss of life.
”If Mr. Walker had been extradited to Arkansas and given the sentence they’re requesting, he wouldn’t have been trolling the streets of Denver passing out poison,” stated the mom, who requested that her title not be used.
In response to Arkansas data, Raffiel Walker was arrested in 2016 for residential housebreaking and terroristic threatening in Marianna, Arkansas. He allegedly robbed a lady in her residence and brandished a weapon throughout the theft.
CBS
The next 12 months, Walker was arrested and initially charged with capital homicide for collaborating in a Jan. 30, 2017 theft and homicide. Courtroom paperwork point out Walker later agreed to a plea discount, pleading responsible in 2018 to second-degree homicide and accepting a sentence of 20 years probation.
However in 2019, in Phillips County Arkansas, Walker was charged with allegedly dealing methamphetamines and cocaine and brandishing weapons. In 2021, Prosecutors in Arkansas’ First Judicial District sought and obtained a nationwide warrant for Walker’s arrest for violating the phrases of his probation. In response to courtroom paperwork, they stated his violating probation ought to end in him being despatched to jail.
Arkansas authorities stated they believed Walker had fled their state.
However in April of 2021, Denver police arrested Walker after he allegedly pointed a gun at one other man throughout a drug sale. Police situated Walker in a automotive at Colfax and Josephine and ”Officers found that Walker had an impressive nationwide full extradition warrant out of Arkansas for a parole violation from a capital homicide/theft case,” in line with police paperwork. They are saying at that time, Walker ran from them however he was situated hiding on the roof of a close-by constructing and was taken into custody.
Police say they discovered a loaded handgun in Walker’s automotive. They are saying Walker’s backpack contained a considerable amount of methamphetamine and different medication. He was charged with drug possession with intent to distribute, possession of a weapon by a earlier offender alongside together with his nationwide parole violation for capital homicide/theft.
Denver District Lawyer Beth McCann advised CBS Information Colorado that Arkansas authorities had been notified that their wished fugitive was being held in Denver. However she stated Arkansas authorities failed to satisfy a authorized deadline to file paperwork to extradite Walker to Arkansas.
”They had been too late so we could not course of the extradition,” stated McCann. ”Clearly, we felt it is a one that shouldn’t be out in public. We felt he was a harmful individual.”
Denver prosecutors agreed to a plea discount with Walker on his Denver costs, however say they requested that he be imprisoned for 3 years. As a substitute, courtroom data present a decide gave Walker three years of probation and no extra jail time. Walker was a free man.
In 2023, Walker once more bought on the radar display screen of Colorado legislation enforcement authorities following the April loss of life of Calvin Grace from a drug overdose. Grace was discovered lifeless in his Englewood residence. When police searched Grace’s cellphone, they discovered earlier than his loss of life, he had exchanged textual content messages with a suspected drug supplier. Englewood police stated the cellphone texting with Grace was linked to Raffiel Walker.
Arapahoe County District Lawyer John Kellner stated, ”This case is a part of an lively, ongoing legal investigation. I presently have a devoted legal investigator reviewing the details surrounding Calvin’s loss of life.”
Walker has not been charged in reference to Calvin Grace’s loss of life and Kellner stated he would supply extra info on the finish of his workplace’s overview of the case.
Grace’s mom is satisfied Walker bought her son the fentanyl that contributed to his loss of life. She says the actual fact Walker was not extradited to Arkansas after his 2021 Denver arrest is ”completely unacceptable. I am simply at a loss and thoughts blown by what is occurring.”
That was not the top of the makes an attempt to have Walker extradited to Arkansas.
In September 2023, Denver police once more arrested Walker in line with police and courtroom data on his fugitive warrant. The Denver District Lawyer’s Workplace says it once more contacted the Lee County sheriff to return get Raffiel Walker. This time, they are saying present Lee County Sheriff Corey Wilson, refused. Wilson didn’t reply to quite a few telephone calls and emails from CBS Information Colorado asking why he wouldn’t decide up Walker. Denver authorities say they’d no selection however to launch Walker from jail.
”What sort of message does this ship to Mr. Walker?” requested Grace’s mom. ”That he can simply run away, he can simply disguise in one other state and he is secure and by no means going to jail and by no means being held accountable for his prior crimes?”
”It is unlucky Arkansas determined to not extradite him given the seriousness of their case. I can say it’s uncommon and our expectation was that they might pursue extradition,” stated McCann.
Walker is not precisely hiding in Denver. CBS Information Colorado discovered him residing in a home simply south of downtown Denver. He has lived within the residence for practically a 12 months and even registered a catering enterprise with the Colorado Secretary of State utilizing his title and his residence handle.
In a telephone name with CBS Information Colorado, Walker stated, ”I bought in a bit of hassle. I do know that.” However he stated it was ”none of what you are promoting. I haven’t got to elucidate it to you. I am in hassle already.” He went on to say he didn’t consent to having his title and film on TV. ”Do what you are gonna do bro,” stated Walker.
Calvin Grace’s mom stated what occurred with Raffiel Walker is ”an absolute failure of our system, an absolute failure. Apprehending him and placing him in custody won’t deliver my son again however it should save different lives.”
