Tamarac man arrested after running over, killing woman in Pompano Beach

Lawton Cohen accused of backing over woman with pickup truck

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. ā€“ A Tamarac man was arrested Sunday in the death of a woman who was run over by a pickup truck in Pompano Beach.

Lawton Cohen, 53, was taken into custody at his Tamarac home Sunday afternoon. On Monday, he appeared in court where he was denied bond.

Broward Sheriff's Office detectives said Cohen ran over Barbara "Bobbie" Sapp, 55, during an argument Saturday night.

Witnesses and surveillance video show Sapp leaning inside the driver's side window of Cohen's pickup truck, which was parked at Rocky's Food Store on Hammondville Road, when Cohen drove forward, knocking Sapp to the ground. Cohen then backed over her, put the truck in drive and drove over her again, detectives said.

Sapp was taken to Broward Health North, where she was pronounced dead.

"I want to know how would he feel if that had been his sister, his mother or somebody. How would he feel?" said the victim's boyfriend, Freddy Hall.

Detectives said Cohen told them he didn't realize he had run over Sapp.

Cohen faces a charge of first-degree murder.

According to court records, at the time of Sapp's death, Cohen was out on bond from previous charges, including aggravated battery, possession of cocaine and reckless driving.

Cohen previously served 18 months in prison in 1985 after he was convicted of false imprisonment, battery and resisting arrest. He then served 15 years in prison beginning in 1991 after he was convicted of sexual battery, strong armed robbery and grand theft auto.

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