24-year-old dies days after he was tased during a traffic stop, Georgia officials say
A 24-year-old taken to a hospital after he was tased during a traffic stop died days later, Georgia officials said.
Jermaine Jones Jr. was in an SUV with two other people when it was pulled over in Augusta on Oct. 12, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. When officials found a gun and a crack pipe, Jones ran and an officer tased him in the back, “causing him to fall on the ground,” multiple news outlets reported.
“After being tased, multiple officers detained him,” state investigators said in a news release. “There was a struggle between officers and Jones in the attempts to detain him.”
While heading to the Richmond County jail, officials said Jones “experienced symptoms requiring medical treatment.” He went to a hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
Jones’ family on Oct. 14 told WJBF he was in a coma with serious brain injuries, and four days later he was pronounced dead at Augusta Medical Center.
In an initial news release, state officials said they were investigating the “use of force incident.” The Richmond County Coroner’s office said it’s investigating the death and that an autopsy had been scheduled.
As of Oct. 15, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office told news outlets four deputies had been placed on leave as officials looked into the incident.
Now, Jones’ mother is waiting for body camera footage to help explain what happened, WRDW reported.
“I just want answers ... because nobody’s child deserves that,” Keyana Gaines told the TV station. “Once these videotapes come back, they’ll hear a whole lot more.”
Jermaine Jones Sr., father of the 24-year-old, told WFXG his son was coherent after he was tased and said he was at the traffic stop.
“They started swinging on him, hitting him, hitting his body parts in the head and stuff,” he told the TV station. “He wasn’t resisting. They was all on his stomach. He said he couldn’t breathe.”
After the encounter, the sheriff’s office had charged Jones with felony “possession of a firearm by first offender” and misdemeanor “obstruction of a law enforcement officer,” according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Anyone with details about the case is asked to submit an anonymous tip at 800-597-8477, gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online or on the See Something, Send Something app.
Mark Price contributed to reporting on this story.
This story was originally published October 20, 2021 at 6:47 AM with the headline "24-year-old dies days after he was tased during a traffic stop, Georgia officials say."
