Friday, November 14, 2008

More Information on Officer Ron Jones Under Investigation for Assault

SAND SPRINGS

A city police officer is under investigation for an alleged assault while off duty at a Halloween weekend party west of Sand Springs.

As first reported on tulsaworld.com, Officer Ron Jones, an eight-year veteran of the Police Department, is on paid suspension while the city investigates the matter.

The Tulsa County Sheriff's Office is conducting its own investigation.

The Sheriff's Office said Jeffrey Scott Youngblood, 37, of Sand Springs suffered a concussion and a broken nose during a fight at the party and was hospitalized for two days.

The assault is alleged to have taken place about 1 a.m. Nov. 2 at the home of Joseph Christensen, who also is a Sand Springs police officer.

Other officers were at the party, and some of them have come forward as witnesses, officials said.

Authorities said Youngblood might have been intoxicated at the party and might have behaved inappropriately toward Jones' girlfriend and the wife of another officer.

When Jones interceded, a scuffle ensued, and Youngblood apparently was knocked to the floor. He was taken by private car to St. John Medical Center in Tulsa.

Sheriff's Capt. John Bowman said detectives tried to question Youngblood a few days later, but Youngblood was unable to remember what happened.

Sheriff's investigators have not yet questioned Jones.

Once he has been questioned, a report on the incident will be sent to the District Attorney's Office, Bowman said.

Jones' attorney, Scott Wood of Tulsa, said his client was acting in self-defense.

"Mr. Jones regrets the incident but feels justified in taking the action he did," Wood said, adding that he expects Jones to be exonerated.

Assistant Police Chief Mike Carter said the complaint against Jones was filed Nov. 2.

More Information: http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/1108/569439.html

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