News & Columns > G.T. Houts > MOST WANTED: Murphy Back In Court Tomorrow (Update 4) *06

MOST WANTED: Murphy Back In Court Tomorrow (Update 4) *06

Pre-Preliminary Hearing on False Imprisonment Charges

By G.T. Houts
Monday, July 6, 2009

Update 4 - Monday 3:50 a.m.

San Bernardino, CA - A pre-preliminary hearing for Thomas Joseph Murphy will be held tomorrow, July 7, at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Michael Dest in San Bernardino County Superior Court in Department S-23.

Murphy, 41, faces seven felony counts, including four counts of false imprisonment, relating to an incident in Crestline on June 23. The Big Bear resident remains in custody on a no bail warrant for parole violation.

Most Wanted suspect Thomas Joseph Murphy, 41, was arrested in Fullerton following a high speed pursuit on the 91 freeway. Charges are pending for kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon related to a Crestline incident. (Photo by San Bernardino County Sheriff.)

On June 26, Judge Douglas Elwell directed the court to have a dactylology interpreter at Murphy's July 7 court hearing. Dactylology is defined as "the art of communicating ideas by certain movements and positions of the fingers; a form of sign language, especially the manual alphabets used by the deaf."

A preliminary Hearing for Murphy is also scheduled for Thursday, July 9 at 8:30 a.m. in Department S-23P.

Update 3

San Bernardino, CA - Seven felony counts have been filed against Thomas Joseph Murphy by the San Bernardino County District Attorney's office. His next court appearance is Tuesday, July 7.

Murphy, who was arrested last week in Fullerton after making the list of the Mountain's Most Wanted for the second time in 2009, was arraigned Friday, June 26, on four felony counts of false imprisonment, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and a single count of threatening a crime. He is also charged with battery, a misdemeanor.

Most Wanted suspect Thomas Joseph Murphy, 41, was arrested in Fullerton following a high speed pursuit on the 91 freeway. Charges are pending for kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon related to a Crestline incident. (Photo by San Bernardino County Sheriff.)

Bail at Friday's arraignment was set at $750,000 but he remains in custody on a no-bail warrant for violation of parole. Judge Douglas Elwell conducted the arraignment via video as Murphy entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.

A pre-preliminary hearing was set for July 7, at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Michael Dest in San Bernardino County Superior Court in Department S-23.

Judge Elwell directed the court to have a dactylology interpreter at Murphy's next court hearing. Dactylology is defined as "the art of communicating ideas by certain movements and positions of the fingers; a form of sign language, especially the manual alphabets used by the deaf."

Murphy is also possibly facing charges in Orange County relating to his high speed chase on the 91 freeway including felony evading, hit and run and resisting arrest.

Update 2 - Thursday 3:36 a.m.

Fullerton, CA - The capture of the Mountain's Most Wanted suspect — Thomas Joseph Murphy —

Twin Peak Detective Jeremiah MacKay told RIMOFTHEWORLD.net that his office received a phone call from a detective at the Fountain Valley Police Department in Orange County yesterday. The detective informed the Twin Peaks station a confidential informant had told him Murphy was at a business in Fullerton.

MacKay explained that shortly after that call from the informant, an agent from the California Department of Corrections was advised of Murphy's whereabouts.

Law enforcement officers from the Fullerton Police Department and Department of Corrections went to the business and located Murphy. When officers attempted to contact Murphy, he fled in his vehicle, MacKay reported in a media release.

Murphy led officers on a high speed pursuit on the 91 freeway at speeds up to 100 miles per hour," MacKay's release noted. He reportedly exited the freeway and drove recklessly on surface streets before hitting several vehicles and damaging several police units. MacKay said at that point, Murphy jumped out of his vehicle and fled on foot before being captured by officers from the Fullerton Police Department.

No citizens or police officers were injured in the pursuit or arrest.

Murphy will be booked on felony evading, hit and run and resisting arrest. He will also be held on a violation of parole warrant. Two additional charges of kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon are being reviewed by the San Bernardino County District Attorney.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Murphy was returned to San Bernardino County and booked at the West Valley Detention Center at 8:34 p.m. Wednesday and held on a no bail warrant.

Update - Wednesday 5:30 p.m.

Fullerton, CA - Thomas Joseph Murphy, 41, is in custody in Fullerton after a car chase. The Twin Peaks Sheriff's Station sought Murphy for kidnapping and for being in violation of his parole on a count of assault with a deadly weapon.

(Photo by San Bernardino County Sheriff.)

A spokesperson for the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Station explained Murphy was arrested by representatives from several agencies and will most likely be transported back to San Bernardino County for booking.

Additional details will be released shortly.

Original Story

Twin Peaks, CA - Thomas Joseph Murphy, 41, is the mountain's newest Most Wanted fugitive. The Twin Peaks Sheriff's Station is seeking Murphy for kidnapping and for being in violation of his parole on a count of assault with a deadly weapon.

A media advisory issued by the Sheriff's Department indicates that on Monday, June 23, at 9:55 p.m., deputies were dispatched to a Crestline residence where it was reported that three females were taken hostage by an unknown subject.

It was reported to authorities that Murphy had arrived at a Crestline residence on the same date looking for his girlfriend.

"While speaking outside the residence with multiple subjects," the news release stated, "Murphy forced a female against her will into the house and held her for several hours."

Murphy allegedly held and threatened four subjects inside the residence for several hours, pouring lighter fluid on each of them, telling them that if they attempted to leave of escape the house he would light them on fire and kill them.

During the incident one female attempted to flee the residence. Murphy reportedly punched the female in her face and forced her onto a couch. When another female inside the residence attempted to help her, Murphy allegedly picked up a hammer and struck the female on her chin with the claw end of the hammer.

Authorities report that one female fled the house hours later as soon as Murphy stepped outside the front door. Murphy was unable to capture her and returned to the house. One of the female's mothers contacted the Sheriff's Department a short time later and notified them of the incident.

Murphy fled the scene prior to deputies arrival. His whereabouts are unknown at this time. Murphy is currently wanted for kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and being in violation of his parole.

Please contact the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Station at (909) 336-0600 if you have any information regarding Murphy's whereabouts.