Melvin Jr. released after court appearance

Jimmy Melvin Jr.is free on bailafter being charged withthreatening a police officer.

Melvin, 26, appeared in Halifax provincial court onFriday, two weeks after he was released from jail when the Crown withdrew charges against him related to a 2007 home invasion.

It was a bizarre scene in court asMelvinfaced the newcharges of uttering death threats and breachinga court order.

Judge Hughes Randall ordered Melvin out of the room after he arrived making a squealing noise. Sheriff deputiesescortedMelvin out and brought him back about 25 minutes later. There were no more outbursts.

Both the Crown and defenceagreedMelvin should be released on a $1,000 surety.

Melvin must stay at his parents' home in Fall River and abide by a 10 p.m. curfew. He can't drink alcohol outside the house and can't possess weapons.

Five Halifax Regional Police officers followed Melvin as he left the court and hopped intoa black pickup truck across the street. The truck squealed out ofthe parking lot and even came close to hitting a cyclist.

Police said Melvin's release on Nov. 14 after two years behind bars prompted several recent shootings in Halifax that are connected to an ongoing drug war.

Melvin was granted bail after two witnesses changed their stories, prompting the Crown to withdraw the charges against him. He still faces charges in connection with another case.

Days after his Nov. 14 release, his father, Jimmy Melvin Sr., was shot at outside a pizza shop in Spryfield.

The next night, an associate of the Melvins was shot and wounded outside the IWK Health Centre in Halifax.

Police Chief Frank Beazley promised unprecedented resources to prevent further violence.

Melvin was arrested Thursday afternoon at a land registry office in Dartmouthforallegedly threatening a police officer.

Police have said little, but sources told CBC News that Melvin was inside the registry doing a search when plainclothes police officers came in, slapped handcuffs on him and took him away.