Three Arrested After Fulton County Carjacking
News Release
ROCHESTER – Three people were arrested Friday, Feb. 19, after a police chase and a carjacking.
The incident began at 7:41 a.m. Friday and eventually led to the arrests of Eugene Jones, 24, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Angela Jones, 24, Kokomo, and Lamondre Mason, 18, Peru.
Indiana State Police Trooper Jesse Reason initiated a traffic stop on a 2017 Ford Taurus, for speeding on northbound US 31 near Fulton CR 550N. During the traffic stop, the trooper noticed indicators of criminal activity.
While Reason was speaking to Angela Jones in his police car, Eugene Jones drove away from the scene with Mason inside. Due to Angela Jones’ presence in the police car, Reason did not initiate a pursuit.
But minutes later, the trooper found the Taurus unoccupied on the southbound portion of US 31 near Fulton CR 375N. Police believe the Taurus crashed into a 2000 GMC Jimmy driven by Ronda Adams, 59, Rochester, IN.
Adams was traveling eastbound on CR 375N and was stopped at the intersection of U.S. 31. The Taurus hit the GMC, as the Taurus was attempting to turn westbound 375N.
Eugene Jones and Mason then allegedly stole a 2009 Ford Flex driven by somebody who pulled over to assist with the accident. Police allege the two took the vehicle after ordering the driver out at gunpoint.
About 40 minutes later, State Police Trooper Caleb Clark saw the stolen Ford Flex on US 31 near SR 16. Clark eventually initiated a traffic stop on the Flex, but the vehicle did not stop.
Jones led Clark, and multiple police officers, on a two-county pursuit driving on mostly rural roads. During the chase, the Flex hit multiple sets of stop sticks causing a controlled deflation on three of the Flex’s four tires. Jones stopped the Flex on Cass CR 500E north of SR 218. Jones and Mason were taken into custody without further incident.
During a search of the Flex, officers found two nine-millimeter handguns, one of which had a 30-round magazine. No one was injured during the pursuit or the carjacking.
Angela and Eugene Jones, along with Mason, were incarcerated in the Futon County Jail.
Eugene Jones is facing criminal charges for possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, obstruction of justice, identity deception, resisting law enforcement causing bodily injury, armed robbery/carjacking, carrying a handgun without a license, and leaving the scene of a personal injury crash.
Further investigation revealed that he was wanted on arrest warrants. from Iowa, for failure to appear for first-degree robbery and an additional charge of robbery.
Angela Jones faces charges for obstruction of justice and conspiracy to commit identity deception.
Mason faces charges for armed robbery/carjacking and resisting law enforcement with a vehicle.