By Julia Brouillette

Alexandria Circuit Judge William Hamblen denied an appeal for bond by former Arlington County Sheriff’s Deputy Craig Patterson on July 2.

Accused of shooting and killing 22-year-old Julian Dawkins in May, Patterson has been charged with first-degree murder and held without bond since his arrest on May 30. At the hearing, Patterson’s representative cited his 17-year career as a law enforcement officer and strong ties to Alexandria as merit for bond.

But Commonwealth’s Attorney Randy Sengel refuted the argument, calling Patterson’s actions “inexcusable.”

“The defendant, with his background in law enforcement, certainly knew that the most appropriate way to handle this matter was to call local police and have them investigate,” Sengel said. “If Patterson’s course of conduct was driven by anger over a confrontation on the sidewalk, what are we to expect might be the result next time he is confronted?”

A few of Patterson’s former colleagues as well as his ex-wife and son attended the hearing, as did friends and family of Dawkins. Patterson rocked back and forth in his seat as the attorney’s discussed his case.

Patterson’s lawyer stressed he 44-year-old’s situation should be examined more closely in order to rule out any possibility that Patterson may have acted out of self-defense.

“What happened here approaches a deliberate, willful murder followed by an attempt to manufacture a justification for it,” Sengel responded.

Patterson returns to court in August for a preliminary hearing.