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Formal charges filed against father accused of running over son while under the influence

Jesse Bullard Memorial.jpg
Evidence removed from suspect's home during investigation into toddler's death
Posted at 6:10 PM, Jan 22, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-10 08:02:04-05

CAÑON CITY — Formal charges were filed Friday against Isaac Bullard, the Cañon City father accused of running over and killing his 3-year-old son last month.

Bullard faces multiple felony counts including vehicular homicide, child abuse, driving under the influence of drugs, and careless driving.

He is being held without bond.

He is due back in court on Feb. 25, where he is expected to be formally charged for the illegal grow and distribution of marijuana.

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People in Cañon City are paying their respects to the three-year-old boy killed this week after his father ran him over.

A memorial consisting of a cross, stuffed animals, toys, and other items was put up in front of the family's home on Natalie Street to remember Jesse James Bullard.

The father accused of being under the influence of drugs at the time of that incident is facing new drug charges after deputies searched his home Thursday.

The Fremont County Sheriff's Office performed a warranted search at the home of 38-year-old Isaac Bullard.

FCSO detailed the charges Friday that Bullard is facing after they executed the search warrant:

  • Cultivation of 30 or more marijuana plants
  • Possession with intent to manufacture/distribute marijuana 50 pounds or greater
  • Unlawful manufacture of marijuana concentrate using dangerous substance
  • Special offender

Deputies released a probable cause report Thursday, detailing the chain of events leading up to the child's death.

According to that report, Bullard said he left his house around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Investigators say Bullard hit the boy as he drove off, but Bullard said he did not notice it at the time.

Bullard told deputies he returned a few minutes later and saw the child in the driveway, checked for a pulse but did not find one. Bullard said he picked him up and rushed to a nearby fire station for help.

The boy was taken to the hospital but could not be revived.

The reports says deputies gave Bullard an impairment test and blood testing and found marijuana in his system, and he admitted to smoking a dab hours before the accident.

Deputies say they have surveillance video from a neighbor that shows the incident.

On top of the new charges after deputies searched the home, Bullard is charged with vehicular homicide, careless driving causing death, driving under the influence of drugs, and child abuse criminal negligence causing death.

Neighbors said Bullard had not lived there long, maybe for around a year. They also said learning more about the incident has been shocking and saddening. "Really upset about it, almost went to tears when I first heard about it, and just, overall it's pretty depressing," said Sarah Benson, who lives next door.

While News5 was on the scene, we observed some kind of green plant being removed from the home. Fremont County Sheriff Allen Cooper did not confirm what exactly the plants were at the time.