Hearing of suspect accused of shooting at Phoenix police officers postponed; here's why

PHOENIX (AZFamily) – A court hearing for the suspect accused of shooting two Phoenix police officers, one of whom died, has been postponed.

Saul Bal, 41, was scheduled to appear in Maricopa County Superior Court on Friday morning, but Bal reportedly refused transportation to the courthouse and a request for an adjournment was made.

Bal's arraignment, where he will enter his plea, is now scheduled for October 4.

Earlier this week, he was charged with several serious crimes, including premeditated murder, attempted willful injury, burglary and weapons misuse.

Bal allegedly shot Officers Zane Coolidge and Matthew Haney as they responded to reports of a car break-in near 16th Street and McDowell Road on September 3.

Coolidge died of his injuries three days after the shooting. Haney was released from the hospital and is recovering at home.

Officer Coolidge was laid to rest earlier this week. His wife, Kristen, was one of many who spoke at the funeral. She said her husband was known as “one of the good guys.” He also leaves behind a five-month-old baby, Emma.

Arizona's family has already detailed Bal's extensive criminal history. Arizona's family investigated 40 charges against Bal over the past 17 years. At least 18 of those charges have been dropped.

Records in Phoenix Municipal Court, Navajo County Superior Court, Pinal County, Casa Grande Justice Court, Yuma Municipal Court and Orange County, California show charges ranging from trespassing to aggravated assault on a police officer. Bal has been sentenced to prison several times in Arizona and served two years in California.

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