Tip leads to capture of stolen patrol car escapee                                                                                  Page 1 of 1

        Cortez Journal 
           

                                             Feb.19, 2000

     BY DAVID GRANT LONG   

     An escapee from the San Juan County, N.M., jail who last summer allegedly led police on a three-state chase
     after attacking a deputy and stealing his patrol car is back in custody, thanks to an anonymous tip to the 
     Cortex police.

     Anthony B. Jones, 28, was arrested on Feb. 9 after a brief struggle at the Giant gas station and booked for
     DUI, according to the police report, and was also placed on a hold for extradition back to New Mexico on
     charges of assaulting a police officer and vehicle theft.

     The suspect apparently had remained at large since his alleged getaway, although the abandoned patrol car
     was recovered the same day it was taken.

     In August, Jones was spotted outside a Farmington liquor store by a San Juan County deputy shortly after
     fleeing from the jail, according to Sheriff's Lt. Izatt, and was run down on foot by the deputy. But
     despite having only one arm, Izatt said, Jones managed to wrest the officer's pepper spray from him and squirt
     it into his eyes before help arrived and he was subdued.

     However, after being placed in the back of a patrol car while the two officers retrieved evidence from the scene
     of the assault, Jones managed to free his right hand, which was cuffed to the back of his pants, then kick out a
     window, climb through and get back in the front, Izak explained.

     This sparked a pursuit that involved several law-enforcement agencies as it progressed through Colorado and
     into Utah.

     After the lead pursuit car ran out of gas, police lost the suspect's trail, and the slightly damaged stolen patrol
     car was spotted by helicopter about 90 minutes later near Hatch.

     Jones, who was already on probation for a previously assaulting a police officer, also resisted the Cortez
     officers who arrested him, according to their reports, and had to be handcuffed and leg-tied.
                                 Copyright 2000 the Cortez Journal. All rights reserved.
                                                                    

     http://www.cortezjournal.com/1news281.htm                                                                            8/25/00

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