Henry Daily Herald

By Jason A. Smith

jsmith@henryherald.com

A $100,000 bond was set for a DeKalb County man, who was shot by authorities following a police chase in Henry County earlier this month.

Randal Montrell Jones, 25, of Stone Mountain, appeared in Magistrate Court Tuesday. He was represented by the Public Defender's Office, and waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

Judge Martin Jones (no relation to the suspect) bound the charges over to superior court. "He's got an extensive history of entering autos," the magistrate judge said. "He attempted to run over an officer, and he was obviously attempting to elude."

Randal Jones is charged with entering an automobile with intent to commit a felony, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, aggravated assault and obstruction of an officer. He was in the Henry County Jail on Tuesday.

Jones led police on a chase, Oct. 12, which began around 9:30 a.m., in the parking lot of the Kroger store at 85 Price Quarters Road in McDonough, according to Henry County Police Maj. Jason Bolton.

"A witness called 911 after observing a suspect breaking into a vehicle, and stealing items in the Kroger parking lot," Bolton said. "A lookout was placed on the suspect's vehicle, and a Henry County Police officer located the vehicle and attempted to stop it. The suspect refused to stop, and a short chase ensued."

Jones allegedly broke into a 2003 Chevrolet Astro minivan, and removed three 18-packs of Heineken beer, a briefcase and a clipboard, according to information in an arrest warrant for the crime. The value of the stolen items is $94.14, according to the warrant. Jones then drove a 1994 Cadillac DeVille, in an effort to get away from police, the warrant states.

An officer, Bolton said, followed Randal Jones into the Parkside at Eagle's Landing subdivision. The suspect then drove through a yard in a cul-de-sac on Kensington Trail, and was met by the officer, who got out of his patrol car to arrest Jones. However, Bolton said, Jones shifted his car into reverse, and drove toward the officer.

"Fearing for his safety, the officer fired his duty weapon at the suspect," Bolton said. "The suspect then fled on foot, and was ultimately Tased, and then taken into custody.

"The perpetrator was struck several times, and even after being struck, he still tried to flee the scene, and that was when he was Tased," added Henry County Police Chief Keith Nichols.

Once he was treated at Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital, the suspect was jailed, police said.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is continuing its probe of the police-involved shooting, according to the agency's Special Agent-in-Charge, Mike Fordham.

"That case is still open, so I can't release any information on it," Fordham said.