The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
An off-duty Washington reserve officer accused of driving under the influence while operating a stolen police car allegedly resisted arrest and tried to summon his K9 to attack.
49-year-old Shane Jones was a deputy with the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office for 17-years before he retired from his position.
In November, Jones became a reserve officer for the Soap Lake police.
In the evening on February 18, Jones was reportedly out driving with his K9 in the patrol car he was issued by the department for use when he is on duty.
Jones allegedly took the car to Franklin County and ended up stuck in a ditch on the side of the highway after an accident with another vehicle on the road.
The authorities learned about the situation when deputies were driving past the scene and saw a few people gathered on the shoulder.
When they spoke with Jones, the authorities believed he was intoxicated.
After being told that he was going to be taken into custody, Jones allegedly struggled and fought against the arresting officer.
The police also asserted that Jones tried to hit a button on a remote that would have allowed the K9 to exit the vehicle and attack, but that he pressed the wrong one. The dog was reported as only having certification to identify illegal substances.
After Jones was detained by force, he was booked and charged for felony possession of a stolen vehicle, and gross misdemeanor charges for driving under the influence and operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock.
Jones, who has two prior DUI’s, asked that he be released on his own recognizance. The judge denied the request and kept the $20,000 bail in place.
The Soap Lake police chief reported that Jones was terminated as a result of the allegations.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.