An Augusta man was rushed to the hospital in critical condition Monday night after being tased by a Richmond County deputy, sparking a GBI investigation.
Jermaine M. Jones Jr., 24, was tased after running from officers during a traffic stop at 7:12 p.m. Monday on Highland Avenue. Jones then struggled with multiple officers as they tried to detain him, according to Nelly Miles, Director of GBI’s Office of Public and Governmental Affairs.
“While on the way to the Richmond County Jail, Jones experienced symptoms requiring medical treatment,” Miles said by email Tuesday afternoon. “He was taken to a local hospital where he remains in critical condition.”
Once he recovers, Jones will be charged with felony possession of a firearm by first offender and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
Jones is already serving five years of probation for an October 2019 aggravated assault in which he shot multiple times at his ex-girlfriend after forcing his way into her residence. Luckily, he missed her.
Also, the suspect was accused in September 2019 of giving the same woman a black eye after punching her, throwing her down on the ground and kicking her, a report says. A judge dismissed a weapons charge and sentenced him to probation for the aggravated assault under the First Offender program. The domestic violence incident remains unresolved in court.
In Monday’s incident, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office requested the GBI’s help on Tuesday morning. The GBI investigation is active and ongoing, Miles said.
Anyone with information can submit anonymous tips by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Here is the original press release from RCSO Sgt. Kimberly Lee:
“On October 11, 2021 at 7:12pm, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Deputies conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Highland Avenue at Clifton Street on a black SUV occupied by multiple subjects. During the course of the traffic stop, one of the subjects fled on foot and was tased by a Deputy and taken into custody. While enroute to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center, the subject experienced a medical emergency and Deputies transported the subject to the hospital for treatment. The investigation into this matter was turned over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. No further information available at this time.”
