Man on ‘most wanted’ list for two years faces arraignment

A man who has been on the Washington State Patrol’s “most wanted” list for two years for allegedly assaulting a trooper faces arraignment next Tuesday in Spokane County Superior Court.

Federal marshals recently arrested Dejuan Mario Jones, 23, in St. Louis and brought him back to Spokane. Jones remained in the Spokane County Jail Wednesday in lieu of $100,000 bail.

He is charged with first- and third-degree assault of Trooper Dawn Noetzel, car theft and attempting to elude police.

Jones was arrested shortly after the alleged assault, but he was released from jail three days later because the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office failed to file charges within 72 hours. When charges were filed six days after Jones’ release, he couldn’t be found.

Court documents say Noetzel pulled Jones over near Division Street and Spokane Falls Boulevard about 1:55 a.m. on Feb. 8, 2004, when Jones accelerated, slid sideways on Division and, after stopping, drove onto a sidewalk. Noetzel reported Jones was sluggish, his speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot.

Noetzel asked Jones to get out of the vehicle and attempted to grab his right arm through an open window when it appeared he was going to drive away, according to court documents. Jones allegedly sped away with the trooper’s arm still in the vehicle, causing her to fall on her stomach and skid about 15 feet on the pavement.

Noetzel was treated at Deaconess Medical Center for muscle strains, scrapes and bruises. Jones also was treated there – for wounds inflicted by a police dog that found Jones hiding under the Post Street Bridge after he crashed at Spokane Falls Boulevard and Washington Street and fled on foot, according to court documents.

Although Jones got away from Noetzel when she got back in her car to pursue him, court documents say witnesses led other officers to the crash site.

Jones allegedly told another WSP trooper that he fled because he thought his license had been suspended and because he was high on Ecstasy and hallucinogenic mushrooms. The trooper said Jones identified himself as a former St. Louis resident who belonged to Spokane’s Fourth Street Crips gang.

Court documents say the 1997 Acura Integra that Jones was driving had been stolen from a friend.