Jones

A gun Jones, 40, allegedly had on him at the time he was shot by the owner of Handy Rental as well as other physical evidence collected, helped tie him to break-ins at the eight businesses and one attempted break-in, Roanoke Rapids Police Department Detective Bobby Martin said this morning.

The businesses broken into include Rusty's Wheel Alignment, Thad's, Elegant Designs, Brooks Drywall, M and D Auto, Carquest, ATS Recovery and Pleasant Used Cars. An attempt was made to break into Given Nationwide Insurance.

A car was stolen from Thad's and a four-wheeler Jones presumably used to commit some of the break-ins was stolen from Brooks Drywall. The gun was stolen from Rusty's.

Over the past 90 days, Captain Andy Jackson said, police were seeing an unusual pattern in business break-ins, mainly related to the automotive stores.

“We started seeing a fluctuation,” Martin said. “We don't normally have these. We started noting similarities. We still hadn't developed a suspect.”

When the Handy Rental break-in occurred on December 27, Roanoke Rapids police were given information that aided the agency in its investigation, said Martin. The stolen gun and other physical evidence that Martin and Jackson declined to elaborate on allegedly helped Roanoke Rapids investigators, under the direction of Captain O.L. Morgan, tie Jones to the other cases.

Jones will be served with Roanoke Rapids warrants for seven counts of breaking and entering; four counts of larceny after breaking and entering; five counts of possession of stolen goods; one count of larceny of a motor vehicle; one count of misdemeanor larceny; nine counts of injury to property; one count of larceny of a firearm, one count of attempted breaking and entering and two counts of safecracking.

Nearly $12,000 in property damage and theft was reported, police said.

Jones was released from prison after serving 22 years of a 50-year sentence for shooting a Warren County deputy in 1990. His probation following his release ended December 4.

Police declined to discuss his criminal past where he was wanted for a string of break-ins in Roanoke Rapids before his apprehension.

It is unclear whether Jones may have committed any crimes immediately following his release from prison. “The majority of ours are more recent. We can't rule out if there may be some,” Martin said.

Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp said this morning all warrants against Jones will be served by hospital police once he is slated for release. He is in currently in fair but stable condition.