A search by Jones County Sheriff’s Department deputies for a possible suicidal female turned violent on Tuesday afternoon in the Shady Grove community in Jones County.
JCSD deputies responded to a report of an adult female in a small black SUV parked on Trace Road late on Tuesday afternoon and threatening to shoot herself. Deputies searched the area to no avail, but were later notified of a vehicle matching the description of the SUV at Dollar General on Highway 15 North near the Matthews and Moss communities.
JCSD Deputy James Smith was the first to arrive at Dollar General and located a vehicle matching the description of the SUV. As he pulled his patrol cruiser into the parking lot in an attempt to make contact with the adult female driver, the driver attempted to pull forward and then put her vehicle into reverse and rammed the JCSD patrol cruiser in the drivers door.
A short pursuit ensued on Highway 15 headed south for approximately one mile during which the adult female driver allegedly fired a shot from a handgun blasting out the front passenger window on her SUV. Once stopped, she was taken into custody by deputies. Deputy Smith reported what are believed to be minor injuries caused by the vehicle impact at the drivers door of his Dodge Durango cruiser. The adult female driver was arrested and charged with DUI and Aggravated Assault On Officer of the Law. She is incarcerated at the Jones County Adult Detention Facility pending her initial appearance in Jones County Justice Court.
The incident is being investigated by the Mississippi Highway Patrol due to the fact a JCSD patrol cruiser was rammed and damaged in addition to the shot that was allegedly fired by the suspect.
“Today is another example of the dangers associated with law enforcement responses to possible suicidal individuals and in this case impaired as well,” notes Jones County Sheriff Joe Berlin. “We greatly appreciate the response assistance by EMServ Ambulance Service, Shady Grove Fire & Rescue, Sharon Fire & Rescue, and the Mississippi Highway Patrol to this incident. As bad as it was today, it could have been so much worse.”
