Traffic stop, crash, carjacking results in arrest of three suspects in Fulton County
At 7:41 a.m. Friday morning, a state trooper initiated a traffic stop on a Ford Taurus on northbound U.S. 31 near Fulton County Rd. 550 North.
During the stop, the trooper reported being suspicious of criminal activity.
While speaking to 24-year-old Angela Jones of Kokomo, 24-year-old Eugene Jones of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, drove away with passenger 18-year-old Lamondre Mason of Peru, police said.
The trooper did not initiate a pursuit due to Angela Jones’ being in the car.
About three minutes later, the trooper located the unoccupied Taurus on southbound U.S. 31 near Fulton County Rd. 375 North.
The trooper found evidence indicating the Taurus crashed into a GMC Jimmy, reports said.
The GMC was traveling eastbound on C.R. 375 North and the Taurus allegedly hit the GMC as the Taurus was trying to turn westbound on C.R. 375 North, police said.
The GMC’s driver was treated at the scene for complaints of pain.
Eugene Jones and Mason then allegedly stole a Ford Flex at gunpoint after the driver of the Flex stopped at the crash scene to help, officials said.
Eugene Jones and Mason drove off before the trooper arrived on scene, reports said.
About 40 minutes after the Flex was stolen, another state trooper saw the stolen Flex on U.S. 31 near S.R. 16.
The trooper initiated a traffic stop on the Flex but Eugene Jones, who was driving, did not stop, police reported.
Eugene Jones allegedly led the trooper and multiple other officers on a two-county chase on mostly rural roads, officials said.
During the chase, the Flex hit sets of stop sticks, which led to the deflation of three of the four tires.
Eugene Jones stopped the Flex on Cass County Road 500 East, just north of S.R. 218.
Eugene Jones and Mason were taken into custody without further incident, officials said.
During a search of the Flex, officers found two nine-millimeter handguns, with a 30-round magazine in one of them.
No injuries were reported during the carjacking or pursuit, police said.
Angela Jones and Eugene Jones, and Mason were taken to the Fulton County Jail.
Eugene Jones is facing the following charges, according to police reports:
- Possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon
- Obstruction of justice
- Identity deception
- Resisting law enforcement causing bodily injury
- Armed robbery/carjacking
- Carrying a handgun without a license
- Leaving the scene of a personal injury crash
Eugene Jones was also wanted on arrest warrants in Iowa, reports said.
Angela Jones is facing charges for obstruction of justice and conspiracy to commit identity deception, police said.
Mason is facing charges for armed robbery/carjacking and resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, officials said.
UPDATE: On November 2, 2022, Eugene Jones pleaded guilty to armed robbery as part of a plea agreement. He was sentenced to 12 years at the Indiana Department of Correction with six years suspended. He was sentenced to three years probation. His charges of resisting law enforcement, synthetic identity deception, auto theft, and leaving the scene of an accident with bodily injury were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Mason pleaded guilty to conversion on January 18, 2022. He was sentenced to four years in prison with credit for 27 days. One day was suspended. He will serve 3 years in home detention and one year probation.
Angela Jones pleaded guilty to false informing in November 2021 and was sentenced to 180 days in jail with 1 day credit and 178 days suspended. She was sentenced to 180 days probation.