22-Year-Old Girl Ran Over Atlanta Police Officer, Denied Bail
Bond has been denied to a 22-year-old woman who hit and killed an Atlanta police officer while driving under the influence on Tuesday.
Chasity Nicole Jones struck and killed Senior Officer Gail Thomas Tuesday, while Thomas was investigating an earlier car accident, on a local highway ramp. Jones has been cited six times for traffic violations in the past five years.
Jones was reportedly returning home from work at Long Horn Steakhouse, when she then proceeded to go to a bar along with three other friends who were passengers in the car when the accident took place. The other passengers were not cited.
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Thomas, a 20-year veteran of the Atlanta Police Department, was struck by Jones as she got out of her patrol car, and was pronounced dead on the scene. Police reported Wednesday that an alcohol breath test revealed Jones to be two times over the legal limit.
Jones was charged with felony first-degree vehicular homicide as well as two misdemeanors, driving under the influence and failure to yield to person authorized to direct traffic.
The family failed to hire Jones an attorney until 45 minutes before Thursday's hearing began.
The mother, Laureli Jones, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that she had warned her daughter about drinking and driving repeteadly. "Well I just didn't want her to drink and drive on me you know. No, she's not really that a problem but she just forgets that she's drinking I guess."
Thomas' cousins appeared in court Thursday as well to support the victim's daughter and her brothers.
A preliminary hearing has been set for Feb. 9 in Fulton Superior Court. Jones prior offenses include four tickets for speeding and two for erratic lane changes. Jones failed to appear in court for two of those incidents.
It is unknown if Jones' prior offenses will substantially affect the outcome of the case.
