Christopher JonesPosted on 07/28/2007 2:06:39 PM PDT by radar101
Christopher Jones
The suspect in Friday’s high-speed chase that gained national attention when two news helicopters collided above the scene shuffled into court Saturday morning with his head down and his left arm wrapped in heavy gauze from his wrist to his elbow.
Christopher Jones, 23, suffered the injuries Friday afternoon during his arrest when police dogs took him down inside a west Phoenix residence.
“I’m not a flight risk,” Jones told Commissioner Joan Sinclair during his initial court appearance at Madison Street Jail. “I will man up to what I did. I am responsible for it.”
Jones told the judge that he “blacked out” during the high-speed chase that included two vehicle thefts and led to a barricade situation near 87th Avenue and Encanto Boulevard. He said he didn’t remember the details of the chase and “woke up” in the west Phoenix residence just before the police dogs “tore me up.”
The Arizona Department of Corrections released Jones on parole in April, and he told the judge he was scheduled to get off parole next month. He also said he had done well on parole and went to work like he was supposed to and spent time with his children.
It was not immediately clear what past convictions Jones has on his record.
Deputy County Attorney Tammara Wright requested a $1 million bond for Jones. She said his actions Friday put everyone in the entire community in danger.
Sinclair agreed to the $1 million bond.
Jones faces four charges of aggravated assault, two charges of vehicle theft and one charge of resisting arrest. Phoenix police Chief Jack Harris also said Friday that Jones could face additional charges related to the deaths of the four television journalists who died in the helicopter crash.
Jones was led into the courtroom at 10:50 a.m. Saturday surrounded by five deputies in black tactical gear. He shuffled in slowly looking at the floor.
Before the judge arrived, he sat in the front row of the courtroom with his left elbow on his knee staring at the floor. He used his right hand to cover his eyes from television photographers.
During the proceedings, he silently shook his head.
Meanwhile, a “go team” of eight federal investigators arrived overnight to sort through the helicopter debris at Steele Indian School Park in downtown Phoenix.
National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Steve Chealander said investigators will drain a pond at the park to gather evidence. He said the water contains helicopter fuel, and investigators will have to take precautions to protect the park from contamination.
“We’re going to carefully drain the pond and gather any evidence that we can,” he said.
Chealander said some debris from the collision at 12:46 p.m. Friday landed on the windshield of a delivery truck, but the driver inside was not injured.
“We’re very fortunate that none of the debris injured anyone,” he said.
Investigators from the go team arrived overnight from Seattle, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. A spokesman said the team includes air traffic control specialists, engineers, mechanical experts and others who will interview witnesses.
The investigators will also interview friends and family of the four victims to reconstruct the events of their final days.
Killed in the crash were ABC 15 pilot Craig Smith and photographer Rick Krolak and Channel 3 pilot Scott Bowerbank and photographer Jim Cox.
“Our condolences go out to the family and friends of the victims,” Chealander said.
He said federal investigators will give more information during an afternoon news conference.
Its the new happy defense, for the guilty. I take full responsibility for nothing. Quick, let me plead to some little felony and get overturned because you never extracted any of the proof from me. For those of you who missed the last 40 years, its like B’rer rabbit saying you’se can cook me and eat me, but please, please don’t throw me in that brier patch. I happily take that little 5 year jolt just as long as you don’t start talking 25 to life or a needle.
complete BS! The guy is scum, but hes not responsible for two BAD helicopter pilots running into each other as they watch overhead like freaking vultures for the amusement of stay home moms and unemployed people who watch TV during a work day.
I'd be interested in reading about the case. Do you have a link or appellate decision?
Be my guest friend.
Jury Convicts Suspect In Highway Patrolman's Death
KSDK - If it hadn't been for Massigh Stallman, Missouri Highway Patrol Trooper Ralph Tatoian would still be alive, and Stallman is responsible for his death, a jury has ruled. In April of 2005, Trooper Tatoian was driving on Interstate 44 to the scene were police were looking for Stallman, a wooded area in Gasconade County. As he drove with his lights and siren on, he came over a hill near Pacific, and slammed into a tractor trailer. Trooper Tatoian was killed. Meanwhile, more than 40 miles away in Gasconade County, police from several agencies continued the manhunt for Stallman. They eventually found him and arrested him. The manhunt began after Stallman held up a convenience store, robbed a woman, and shot a Gasconade Sheriff's Deputy. The deputy survived the shooting, and Stallman led police on a chase that ended along Highway 50, where Stallman ran into the woods. The jury also convicted Stallman of charges related to those crimes. Stallman's attorneys planned to appeal the conviction for second degree murder in Trooper Tatoian's death, saying he should not be held responsible for the crash. Stallman, 28, is from High Ridge. He now awaits sentencing, which could include life in prison.
http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=124701
Do you have a link to the appellate court decision?
Uh, no and I don't have crime scene photos or copies of police reports.
You implied you wanted some proof, and I provided it for you. You wanna dig deeper, have at it.
Since he was convicted just last week, an appellare court decision is likely at least six months, or more away.
The murder conviction will never stand up to appellate review. The cop was driving dangerously and died as a result of his own stupid decision to not exercise appropriate care while driving.
They're hopin' to find strange women, distributin' swords.
When we were first married, I was in the doghouse for some misdemeanor whose import completely escaped me, something like leaving the toilet seat up. Anyway, I got a Hallmark “I Sorry” card with a pathetic looking puppy on it and the caption, “If I say I’m sorry, does that mean I can’t do it again?”
(Yeah, she bought it, we’re still married. It’s not that easy to get rid of me.)
My #69 was meant for you not Steamburg. Steamie: Roger your #61.
National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Steve Chealander said investigators will drain a pond at the park to gather evidence. He said the water contains helicopter fuel, and investigators will have to take precautions to protect the park from contamination.
“We’re going to carefully drain the pond and gather any evidence that we can,” he said.
'There is no truth to the rumors that the government has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder', said the government spokesman as they knifed through a few cool million bucks of taxpayer money to figure out that a helicopter collision was INDEED a helicopter collision.
'Ere, mayhap they'll find a tart, lying about in the pond, what?
I have no need to explain the legal doctrine of felony murder any further. If you disagree with it, perhaps you should move to Arizona and lobby the state legislature to have it changed.
The prosecutor will decide whether he or she wants to bring charges. A jury (or a judge) will decide if I'm correct or not.
Agree ...........pilot’s & presstitutes weren’t required to chase this guy. Police Helo’s ....sure a gimme. Not the commercial pandering enterprises profiting from the crime.
The helicopters belonging to those stations was “their” accident ......
As much as I’d love to see this SOB go to jail for as long as possible for his endangering all on the ground in the high speed chase and his carjacking. The New’s Choppers ain’t his burden to bear IMHO.
A little hard to file criminal charges when no crime was involved in regards to the helicopters colliding.
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