Officers Injured in Drug Arrest VIDEO STORY

LIBERTY, April 15, 2004 – It was around mid night on Wednesday when Officers Greg Bogany and Cedric McDuffie of the City of Liberty Police Department responded to two officers radio call for assistance in the 700 block of Washington Ave. just east of Navigation.

According to Sgt. Investigator Shannon Bowdoin, Sgt. Richard McCown and Deputy David McNeely were working uniformed street level narcotics assignment when they observed a drug transaction take place.

They approached the subject involved in the transaction, latter identified as Arthur Lavel Jones, approximately 35 years old whose last known address was in Dayton. They attempted to take Mr. Jones into custody and secure his hands but Mr. Jones was clutching something in his hand and would not release it.

Officer McNeely grasped Mr. Jones’ hand and told him to open it and both officers talked to Mr. Jones for about 2 minutes trying to get him to put his hands behind him.

According to Sgt. Investigator Bowdoin, it was at this time a fight began which spilled over into the vacant lot at the intersection of Washington and Navigation from the street.

During the violent struggle Mr. Jones took pepper spray from Officer McCown’s service belt and sprayed both McCown and Officer McNeely in the eyes. In the process Mr. Jones was also contaminated with the spray.

The officers call for assistance was answered by Officer Greg Bogany and Cedric McDuffie who were first to respond. Mr. Jones was then taken into custody without further incident.

City of Liberty Ambulance and Liberty County EMS Ambulance transported Mr. Jones and the injured officers to Liberty Dayton Community Hospital suffering from pepper spray contamination.

According to Sgt. Investigator Bowdoin, testing at the hospital showed that Sgt. McCown had aggravated a previous fracture to his arm that occurred some months ago, which had required surgery to mend.

Mr. Jones was charged with 2 counts of Aggravated Assault of a Public Servant, a First Degree Felony and Justice of the Peace Bobby Rader sent bond at $100,000 for each charge.

According to Sgt. Investigator Bowdoin, Mr. Jones had only been released from jail a few days earlier on bond while awaiting trial on charges of Aggravated Assault of a Public Servant stemming from a incident involving and Dayton Police Officer about one month ago.

According to Sgt. Investigator Bowdoin, Mr. Jones has two previous convictions for Robbery out of Harris County and possibly faces drug related charges here pending the out coming of testing by the Drug Task Force of material recovered at the scene last night.

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