Below information is from court documents that were filed by the State Attorney's office.
COMES NOW WILLIAM N. MEGGS, State Attorney, by and through the undersigned Assistant State Attorney, and enters this NO INFORMATION in the above-styled cause, and as grounds therefore, would show:
Based on the police reports in this case, this incident began over people walking in the street. As a police vehicle approached, the pedestrians got out of the roadway and then resumed walking in the roadway after the police vehicle passed. It should be noted that the street in question has no sidewalks and many of the homes are set very close to the road so as to make it impractical for residents and visitors to avoid walking in the street. The police vehicle turned around and an officer exited the vehicle and attempted to detain Defendant Jones for a civil infraction of obstructing the roadway. When the officer ordered Jones to stop, he refused. When the officer grabbed his arms, Jones attempted to pull away and was then charged with resisting officer without violence. Defendant’s family members, outraged over his arrest, began to yell at the officer. This resulted in three more arrests, two of which involved injury to the arrestees.
The State acknowledges that the detention of Jones on a pedestrian violation may have been technically lawful. But the actions of the officers in this case led to an absurd result. Four arrests stemming from somebody walking in the roadway is not a scenario that lends itself to a successful prosecution. Therefore, the State is exercising its discretion to dismiss the charge against Defendant Quanterrious Jones.
Dated on October 10, 2014.
