A man accused of committing several hit-and-runs and car thefts before leading police on a three-city chase was described in court Wednesday as displaying erratic behavior during his initial arrest.
Charges related to incidents that occurred in DeKalb County and Norcross were dropped against Joshua Scott Jones due to jurisdiction issues, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Jones is accused of six hit-and-runs and four car thefts in an Aug. 3 chase involving a stolen police cruiser. The charge of theft by taking of the police car was also changed to theft by receiving since the theft occurred in DeKalb, Channel 2 reported.
Gwinnett Police Officer Michael Ricks said Jones appeared to be on drugs when he was arrested.
“He was speaking very fast,” Ricks said in court. “He was incredibly nervous and agitated. He couldn't stand still or sit still. We even had him lay on the ground and he kept fidgeting around.”
Officers later found methamphetamine and Oxycodone in Jones’ possession after the chase.
Ricks arrested Jones just before he managed to steal his patrol car, Channel 2 reported.
The officer handcuffed Jones and placed him in his squad car, but he eventually turned around to find the suspect had squeezed through the prisoner window and stole the car. Ricks testified Jones had hinged handcuffs.
Police said Jones abandoned the patrol car and allegedly stole a Ford F-150 pickup truck. Officials were able to track him to the location through a 911 dispatcher.
Officers said Jones stole another truck before fleeing to Duluth, where he we was arrested on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. An officer performed a PIT maneuver, causing Jones to swerve and flip the truck on its side.
Jones was wanted in Forsyth County for probation violation at the time of the chase.
Jones’ attorney, Alan Gilmer, said his client was dealing with personal matters.
“In his personal life, some things were happening,” Gilmer told Channel 2. “That’s not a legal excuse, but he had his own personal motivations ... there was something going on in his head that day.”
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