Marco Perez storms out of court after parents asked to testify in officer’s murder case

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — The suspect in a Mobile police officer’s 2019 murder became emotional and stormed out of the courtroom on the second day of trial after his parents were asked to testify in the case.

Marco Perez is accused of shooting and killing Mobile Police Officer Sean Tuder in January 2019. On the second day of the trial, law enforcement officials were called to testify along with Perez’s parents.

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The state called more than 10 witnesses Thursday afternoon, and testimony began where it left off Wednesday with Sergeant Dennis Owens of the Mobile Police Department. Sgt. Owens recalled creating the report about a stolen gun, which was determined to be the gun that killed Officer Tuder.

Following Sgt. Owens’ testimony was Alabama State Probation Officer Cassius Williams, who testified that Perez had signed a probation order in 2018. As part of the probation order, Perez was not supposed to leave his home, and if he did, that was supposed to be reported to his probation officer. However, he was reported missing on Jan. 8, 2019. Perez’s mother said he had been missing since Dec. 31, 2018, which violated his probation.

United States Probation Officer Clay Marsal took the stand to discuss the missing person report. Officer Marsal said a warrant was obtained on Jan. 10, 2019, to look for Perez.

Next up on the witness stand was the owner of the gun, which was a Smith & Wesson M&P .40, used in the murder, Charles Petty. Petty was able to recognize the gun as being his. On Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, Petty saw the news of the shooting at Peach Place Inn and began looking for the gun because of how close his home was to the scene, according to his testimony.

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Petty testified that he did not initially report the gun stolen when he could not find it. He said he was contacted by Sgt. Owens, who informed him that his gun was used at the scene of Tuder’s death. Petty said he did not know Perez.

The state then called Sergeant Dorothea George from the Mobile Police Department to the stand. At the time that Perez was last seen, Sgt. George was the primary investigator for adult missing persons cases with MPD. Sgt. George reviewed the case and contacted Perez’s mother, Tiffany Perez. Sgt. George also testified that she asked the cyber team to get subpoenas for information on Perez’s phone.

Sgt. George was prepared to testify about the text messages that Perez’s parents received on their phones from his phone number.

At this point, the state called Perez’s parents to testify that some text messages found on Perez’s phone were really from them. Tiffany Perez took the stand, but before questioning could get underway, Perez became very emotional and stormed out of the courtroom. A recess was called and Perez came back into the courtroom before his mother’s testimony began.

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When Tiffany Perez took the stand, she admitted to being the custodial guardian for Perez while he was on probation. Tiffany said Perez left the residence and admitted to not telling the police, which violated his probation order. She also testified that she received text messages from Perez’s cellphone and gave them to police.

After Tiffany’s testimony, Sgt. George was recalled to the stand. Perez had told his family members he had been kidnapped on Jan. 3. Text messages were shown to the court. A text sent to Tiffany’s phone read, “Marco won’t be able to make it. He won’t be able to make it to anything else in his life.” A message sent to Perez’s father said, “I am not scared of you. Your son should have never shot up my house like he did.”

Another text was shown in court that said, “hey this is Marco I’m ok I’m somewhere and idk where and the person who has me said y’all need to drop it and get the cops out of it.”

Sgt. George said officers were sent to Duke Road in Wilmer to look for Perez. Officers did not find Perez, but they did find a female who knew Perez. Officers spoke with the female and her grandfather and, based on their testimonies, were able to determine that Perez was not missing. Perez’s kidnapping story turned into a case of false reporting to police. A warrant was signed for Perez’s arrest for the misdemeanor.

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Another person called to testify Thursday was former Judge Holmes Whiddon, who heard the false report case. Whiddon testified that Perez pleaded guilty to the charge and admitted to the judge that he faked his kidnapping to avoid law enforcement.

The state called Mobile police Corporal William Byrd to the stand. He’s been with the Mobile Police Department for 19 years and serves in the K-9 division. He took a K-9 to find Perez, but their attempt was unsuccessful.

Byrd was cross-examined by Perez’s defense attorney, Jason Darley, who pointed out Byrd’s uniform and the aspects of it that identify him as an on-duty police officer.

The state called Don Roper, who lived in a trailer on Danner Road, to the stand. He said Perez was wearing a shirt and basketball shorts in 40-degree weather. He said Perez told him he had been kidnapped.

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Roper replied, “What’s really going on?” Prosecutor Ashley Rich asked Roper why he asked the question. Roper replied, “I ain’t stupid.”

Roper said Perez admitted he was running from the police. Roper then called Perez’s father, and all three spoke on the phone. Roper was supposed to return Perez to his family.

While Roper was in the car, Perez jumped out of it while it was still in motion according to his testimony.

The state also called Howard Cassidy to the stand, who is in jail on robbery and assault charges. Cassidy, 19 at the time of the incident, said the state is not promising him anything for his testimony.

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Cassidy said he knew Perez from Baker High School. He said police came to his home because Perez had been kidnapped around 4 a.m., and he had seen Perez the day before he allegedly went missing on Jan. 7, 2019. He said Perez knew the police were looking for him, and he found out because of media reporting.

Cassidy said the police came to his house again, and he told them he did not know where Perez was. He said he had seen Perez with a gun, which he admitted was stolen.

Testimony will continue 9 a.m. Friday morning

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