Jones

A wanted Altoona man is in jail after police say he crashed an SUV into the back porch of a house, ran 13 stops signs and struck three other vehicles while trying to get away from Altoona police.

According to Altoona police, about 5 p.m. Monday, an Altoona police officer on patrol and stopped at a red light saw a driver in a black Chevrolet Equinox that appeared to be Ricky Lee Jones Jr. at East Walton Avenue and Greenwood Road.

The 35-year-old Jones was wanted on a bench warrant for a probation violation, and Altoona police were also trying to find Jones so he could be served with an emergency protection-from-abuse order.

“He was a person we had been looking for throughout the week,” said Altoona police Lt. Michael Sapienza, who added officers also had received information that Jones was also armed.

Jones allegedly threatened his girlfriend by sending her texts saying he would be out at the bars looking for her and that he would set “all their houses on fire and as (they are) running out I’m gonna (ex­pletive) shoot them, you will have to live with it because it’s all on you.”

When Altoona Patrolman Bryan Miller spotted Jones, he turned his patrol car around and followed. Police said Jones accelerated on Pottsgrove Road as he headed to Pleasant Valley Boulevard, where Jones then turned right.

With Patrolman Miller behind him, Jones traveled a short distance and turned right onto Indiana Drive, where police said he struck the back porch of a home.

It was there that police confirmed through the license plate that it was Jones in the SUV, and after Jones backed up toward the officer, he drove through a yard to get back onto Pleasant Valley Boulevard.

Patrolman Miller activated his lights and siren and followed Jones down the boulevard to South Seventh Street, where Jones drove through a red light and hit a 2017 Ford Escape, according to the charges.

Police indicated the damage was minor and Jones sped along South Seventh Street to Carl Avenue, where another APD officer in a marked patrol vehicle joined the pursuit.

Jones allegedly drove the wrong way down South Eighth Street at Bell Avenue and then turned onto the 800 block of Second Avenue. Police said Jones drove through a stop sign at 12th Street and at 15th Street he crashed into the front end of a white pickup truck that was driving on 15th Street.

Jones drove through a stop sign at 17th Street, but Logan Township police had blocked the northbound lanes of traffic on 17th Street to stop traffic, police said.

Police said Jones fishtailed onto 17th Street, crossed the grass median and then headed down Third Avenue with two Altoona police vehicle chasing him.

Jones allegedly accelerated down Third Avenue and drove through seven stop signs, and officers, who were slowed by the intersections, lost sight of him several blocks past Dysart Avenue.

Police spread out to search the area around Tuckahoe Park and Union Avenue, and when one of the officers turned off his emergency lights at Fourth Avenue and 30th Street, Jones was spotted turning onto Third Avenue from 31st Street. Jones allegedly drove toward and nearly struck the parked police car vehicle. Police said the officer saw Jones’ SUV had a blown front tire on its passenger side.

Jones, now followed by police again, headed down Third Avenue and ran a stop sign at 29th Street before he continued onto Furnace Avenue. Police said Jones drove through the stop signs at 28th Street and 27th Street before he turned into the alley at the 2700 block of Fifth Avenue.

When Jones drove through the stop sign at 28th Street, his SUV was struck by a Ford Expedition and crashed into an embankment on the 2800 block of Fifth Avenue. With the SUV undrivable, Jones took off on foot and ran between two houses.

Police fanned out in the neighborhood and with the help of various residents, determined Jones had not crossed Fifth Avenue and was likely hiding somewhere.

While checking a front yard on the block, police heard noises coming from a large bush in front of a house. When an officer yelled for Jones to come out, police could hear more noises coming from the bush, but Jones didn’t emerge.

It was when Logan Township police Officer George Swander and his police dog, Ciro, arrived and Swander threatened to send the dog into the bushes as it barked loudly that police heard Jones shout, “I give up and I am coming out!”

Police said Jones stood up, walked out of the bushes and was taken into custody.

Officers allegedly found two loaded rifles, a Marlin 30-30 and a Mossberg 30-06, in the back seat of the SUV Jones was driving.

Jones was involved in a police chase in March and had pleaded guilty to an escape charge in that case, police said. His criminal history prohibits him from owning a weapon, according to the charges.

Jones is now charged with felony counts of illegal possession of guns and fleeing police along with numerous misdemeanor counts that include recklessly endangering another person, hit and run and criminal mischief. He is also charged with 29 traffic violations, including driving on a suspended license.

Bail was set for Jones at $50,000 cash, and he remains in Blair County Prison. A preliminary hearing is slated for Dec. 5 at Central Court.

Mirror Staff Writer Greg Bock is at 946-7458.