By USA Daily Now 
North Carolina officials have set a $5 million bond for NATHANE BLACKMON, 42, a serial offender charged in a fatal impaired driving crash that claimed the life of a beloved school teacher and left her adopted son, who has Down syndrome, injured. The incident occurred in January, resulting in the death of DAWN TUCKER, 67, and injuries to her 34-year-old son, JOEY TUCKER.
Dawn Tucker welcomed Joey into her life as a foster parent when he was just 20 months old. Their bond grew strong, and she later adopted him, becoming not only his mother but also his fiercest advocate and supporter. Her obituary describes her as a woman with an indomitable spirit and a compassionate heart, deeply committed to causes she believed in. She was unafraid to protest when necessary and steadfast in her advocacy for those who are often ignored, silenced, or left behind. Her love and dedication to Joey, who has Down syndrome, were constant and unwavering.
Dawn Tucker was a teacher, friend, and family member who changed the lives of countless people. Her sweetness and care for others were matched only by her steely resolve to be a part of people-powered movements to make the world a better, kinder, and safer place for all. She will be dearly missed.
Nathane Blackmon faces multiple charges, including felony death by vehicle, felony serious injury by vehicle, felony drug possession, and simple drug possession. Prior to the fatal crash, Blackmon had a long history of criminal activity, with his first charge dating back to a 2001 larceny case. Over the past 24 years, he has been charged with dozens of crimes, including assault on a female, resisting a public officer, breaking and entering, shoplifting, kidnapping, interfering with emergency communication, eluding arrest, assault with a deadly weapon against a government official, reckless driving to endanger, and felony probation violation, among others.
Retired Durham Police Department homicide detective Terry Mikels, now with Executive Security Concepts, expressed frustration with the repetitive cycle of repeat offenders. “These officers put their lives on the line every day to go out and make the community safe for everybody,” Mikels told Fox News Digital. “They have such a high standard to follow. They have to have probable cause to make an arrest. Then they have to show probable cause again for a magistrate to issue the warrant. Then they had to show probable cause again for a district court judge to get them through the system.”
Mikels explained that officers spend hours showing proof of why a criminal suspect should be arrested, charged, and detained, only for offenders to go right back on probation, even if they are found guilty of a crime. “I’ve been working homicide cases for years. You see people go from a peeping tom to assault on a female, and they tend to escalate. It’s the same thing — whether it’s property crimes, drugs. … At what point are we saying enough’s enough?” he said. “We’re going to put you in jail and there’s going to be a penalty for what you do. And the real crux of the matter is that: when you’re in jail, guess what? You’re not out committing crimes anymore.”
The Durham Police Department, like many others across the country, is dealing with significant staffing shortages, which complicates matters further. Police are pulled thin in responding to emergencies, and it becomes very frustrating to officers when they’re dealing with the same offenders repeatedly.
The Durham Police Department referred Fox News Digital to the Durham District Attorney’s Office, which did not immediately respond to inquiries. Blackmon’s public defender, Monica Burnette, could not be reached for comment.
[Source: Fox News Digital](https://www.foxnews.com)