Driver indicted in death of Atlanta police officer

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By Angel K. Brooks

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A 22-year-old Stone Mountain woman was formally charged Tuesday in the crash that killed an Atlanta police officer last month, the Fulton County District Attorney's Office announced.

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Chasity Nicole Jones appeared before Fulton County Magistrate judge Jessy Lall at the Fulton County jail Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012 and was denied bond for vehicular homicide, assessed $10,000 for DUI and $5,000 for failure to yield to person authorized to direct traffic.

John Spink, jspink@ajc.com Chasity Nicole Jones appeared before Fulton County Magistrate judge Jessy Lall at the Fulton County jail Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012 and was denied bond for vehicular homicide, assessed $10,000 for DUI and $5,000 for failure to yield to person authorized to direct traffic.

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Atlanta Police Department Chasity Jones has been charged with three crimes in connection with the death of an Atlanta police officer.

Atlanta Police Department Senior Police Officer Gail Thomas was a 15-year veteran of the Atlanta Police Department.

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Chasity Nicole Jones was indicted by a Fulton grand jury on 13 counts, including homicide by vehicle in the first degree, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of drugs, reckless driving, and possession of open container of alcoholic beverage while operating vehicle.

Atlanta Police Senior Officer Gail D. Thomas was struck and killed Jan. 24 when she stopped to assist a fellow officer with a single-vehicle accident. While exiting her patrol car, Thomas was hit by a 1998 Honda Civic on the Brookwood interchange ramp from I-75 southbound to I-85 northbound and died on the scene, police said.

Jones stopped and was arrested at the crash site. A breath test showed her alcohol level was at .16, twice the legal limit, police said.

Jones is in the Fulton County Jail without bond.

The case will be assigned to a Fulton County Superior Court Judge and scheduled for trial, the DA's office said.