The deputy, who was seriously injured while in pursuit of a bank robbery suspect, speaks to The Malibu Times about his recovery and expects to be back at work soon. The suspect in the robbery awaits trial.
By Melonie Magruder / Special to The Malibu Times
Deputy Jim Mulay of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station, who was seriously injured last year during pursuit of a bank robbery suspect, is recovering well, officials say.
On Aug. 28, a suspect who had allegedly robbed the Wells Fargo bank in Malibu intentionally rammed the motorcycle Mulay was riding, while being pursued by the deputy on Pacific Coast Highway, officials reported.
Mulay was airlifted to UCLA Medical Center where he remained unconscious for 10 days in the intensive care unit, with broken back and neck vertebrae, crushed ribs and a lacerated liver.
Sheriff’s officials say Mulay is expected to return to active duty.
“Jim’s doing great,” said Lt. Linda Becker of the Malibu/Lost Hills Station. “He’s no longer in a back brace and he is able to drive. We talk to him all the time. And he does expect to return to active duty.”
While Mulay was in the ICU, his colleagues in the Sheriff’s Department scheduled a blood drive and fundraiser to help the deputy’s family during his lengthy recovery. The community response was overwhelming.
An estimated 350 local residents showed up in support of Mulay and blood bank volunteers scrambled to accommodate 125 blood donors, having hoped for perhaps 70.
“Yeah, I’m doing OK, considering,” Mulay said in an interview with The Malibu Times. “It has been a miserable five months, but my doctor let me take off my neck brace today.”
Mulay is rigorously applying himself to physical therapy and said that, after several months of being basically immobilized, “the biggest problem now is regaining strength. But I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
After spending three weeks at UCLA Medical Center, Mulay was transferred to its facility in Northridge, where he was monitored for another month. After that began the long road to rehab and recovery.
Mulay acknowledged the process has been hard on his wife, Lisa, and their two daughters, age eight and five.
“I think my younger daughter, Anna, didn’t really understand what happened,” he said.
Mulay said the most frustrating part of recovery is “not being able to do the things I’ve always done, like pick up my little girls.”
However, the 16-year veteran hopes his doctors will clear him to return to work soon, although he acknowledged he probably would no longer be patrolling.
“My days on a motorcycle are over,” he said.
Mulay said he is aware of his good fortune, despite the severity of his initial injuries.
“When I woke up in the hospital, it was very strange,” he said. “I don’t remember anything at all about that day. At first, they didn’t tell me what happened, other than that it was a motorcycle accident. You never know. Here I was in this terrible crash and yet I am able to walk and pretty much pick up my life.”
With the intense bond generated by law enforcement officers who share a unique danger everyday, the Mulay family is not lacking in support and comradeship from the Malibu/Lost Hills division.
“I’ve stayed in touch with all my colleagues at the station,” Mulay said. “I can’t wait to get back to work.”
Charles Terreal Washington, the suspect in the robbery and attempt on Mulay’s life, currently sits in Los Angeles County jail, awaiting trial. His case, filed by the Malibu/Lost Hills Station, has been “piggy-backed” with at least 15 felony charges, including those from other county Sheriff’s stations.
Sgt. Albert Ortiz of the Major Crimes Bureau-Metro Detail is tracking Washington’s case.
“We don’t yet know when he will actually go to trial,” he said. “There are multiple jurisdictions filing charges and we are grateful to Redondo and Long Beach for helping us track down this guy.”
Ortiz said he believes Washington got away with “around $10,000” in the robbery from Wells Fargo Bank in Cross Creek Plaza last August. By the time Washington was arrested that night, the money was gone.
“We believe he gambled it away,” Ortiz said. “He’s a bad guy. I don’t know how he will plead in the trial, but attempted murder of a police officer is a very serious charge.
“We’re just so happy that Jim is recovering,” he added.
Mulay said his children are adjusting to the demands of his injuries.
“My older daughter, in her innocence, couldn’t believe that someone would actually do this to me,” he said. “She told me, ‘Daddy, it must have just been an accident!'”
After reflecting for a few minutes, Mulay said, “I told her that for every bad person out there, there are also a thousand good guys.”