Kids Threatened with Gun

It was some thinking on the part of five juveniles and the actions that they took that led to the arrest of an individual who police say threatened the kids. On Sat. Feb. 5, five kids were in a park on Elk Pointe Drive and were approached by an unknown white man. According to police reports and from what the kids told them, the man just asked them, if they "had any fine moms". Not wanting to entertain a stranger and to their credit, the kids ignored the man as they walked away. He allegedly told the kids, "You know, I'm not scared of y'all, right? It was then the man produced a gun from his vehicle. When the kids saw the gun, they ran and told their parents of what had just happened to them. Monroe police was notified and after hearing statements from both parents and kids that a weapon was pointed at the kids, MPD went to apprehend the alleged suspect. Officers would locate the alleged suspect in the 2900 block of Deborah Drive. The suspect was identified as 40-year-old Andy Wayne Jones. He was read his Miranda Rights after officers told him of alleged actions, as explained by the kids he came in contact with and their parents. Officers said Jones told "inconsistent stories", as if the kids made things up. Then, Jones allegedly tried to make himself as "the victim", saying that the kids asked him if he had a gun. Police didn't say how Jones was able to substantiate that claim or anything that he said. In addition to questioning Jones, police said that Jones "appeared" to be under the influence of a substance. Police conducted a search of Jones' vehicle and allegedly discovered marijuana and syringe containing methamphetamine. Jones was then arrested on multiple counts. Those were (1) Five counts of Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, (2) Five counts of Cruelty to Juveniles, (3) Two counts of Possession of a Dangerous Controlled Substance and (4) Possession of Drug Paraphernal. It was the quick and decisive thinking of those five kids that helped take a dangerous individual off the street. They are to be commended for not provoking the individual in any way and going straight to their parents who then called for the police. This incident had a happy ending, in that those kids did just what law enforcement would have wanted them to do. One less danger to our kids in their world, that of being in the park, is behind bars.

Photo Andy W Jones