MOUNT VERNON – A Knox County grand jury cleared Fredericktown Police Patrolman Josh Jones of any wrongdoing in a traffic stop July 6 during which the officer fired his weapon at a suspect.
The grand jury found that Jones’ use of deadly force during the traffic stop was self-defense. The officer was cleared of any wrongdoing, Prosecuting Attorney Chip McConville said in a release from his office.
Darren Price, 38, of Howard was indicted by the grand jury on four counts: having weapons under disability, failure to obey the order of signal of a police officer and tampering with evidence, all third-degree felonies; and improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony.
Jones pulled over a car police reports say was driven by Price on June 17. Price allegedly aimed a .25 caliber pistol at Jones as the officer approached the suspect’s vehicle. Jones believed he was going to be shot and took evasive action before firing several shots at the vehicle.
The vehicle left the scene, and Jones followed in a pursuit on Fredericktown-Amity Road at speeds of more than 100 mph, the prosecuting attorney’s office said. The suspect avoided pursuit.
Prior felony convictions prevent Price from being able to legally possess a firearm, the prosecutor’s office said. The suspect allegedly discarded the firearm after the traffic stop.
Price was arraigned before Knox County Court of Common Pleas Judge Richard Wetzel, who set bond at $500,000, the release said.
McConville said the investigation continues and more charges could be filed. Ohio Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation agents and detectives from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the incident.
The suspect was arrested on June 24 at a North Liberty residence. Arrest warrants had been issued using tips from the public and the results of an investigation by deputies and Ohio BCI agents. With information from the Mount Vernon Police Department and assistance by the U.S. Marshal Service’s Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team, Price was located and apprehended, the prosecutor’s office said.
