Wayne Eric Jones Jr., 29, of LaPlace, a convicted felon, was arrested Tuesday, Augusts 2, 2022 after a brief pursuit with police in a stolen vehicle.

On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, about 3 p.m., officers were notified of a stolen vehicle in the area of La. 3188 and St. Andrew’s Boulevard in LaPlace. Upon arrival in the area, officers attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle at I-10 eastbound at the 208.6 mile marker. The driver, later identified as Jones, refused to stop and fled from deputies at a high rate of speed. A brief pursuit followed.

Jones exited I-10 at Exit 209 and continued south onto U.S. 51, eventually turning onto Woodland Drive, then traveling onto English Colony and several other streets in Cambridge subdivision.

Officers successfully deployed spike strips at Cambridge and Revere drives, which effectively ended the pursuit as the vehicle eventually crashed into a tree in the 2700 block of Williamsburg Drive. Jones exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Subsequently, he was apprehended.

Searching the vehicle, officers located a backpack with a gun, a bag containing 30 grams of crack cocaine, four bags containing 116 grams of marijuana, 22 dosage units of suboxone and two portable electronic scales. Officers also discovered the vehicle was reported stolen by the New Orleans Police Department and he was wanted on contempt of court warrants.

Jones was charged with possession or distribution of drug paraphernalia 1st offense (misd), safety belt use/tags indicating exemption, illegal possession of stolen things (felony), aggravated flight from an officer by vehicle (felony), possession with intent to distribute marijuana (felony), possession with intent to distribute schedule II CDS, possession of firearm/carry concealed weapon by convicted felon (felony), illegal carrying of weapon with CDS and possession with intent to distribute suboxone.

Jones is being held in custody in lieu of a $212,089 bond.

**All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.