Police: SouthSide Man Rammed Car with Kids Inside

A SouthSide man is accused of intentionally ramming his car into a parked vehicle occupied by an infant and a young child – one of them his son.

The children apparently were not hurt, although court records do not say either way.

In the Wednesday morning incident, the suspect, Randall Jones, 30, also is accused of dragging his girlfriend – the mother of the two children – by the hair down a street and striking a vehicle and sideswiping the woman’s vehicle as he sped through the neighborhood.

Jones, of 625 Aaron St., faces nine charges, including aggravated assault and driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked, which is linked to a previous DUI charge, the records say.

According to a criminal complaint filed by city police officer Luke Trevezo:

• The officer responded around 11am to the 1300 block of Aaron Street for a report of a hit-and-run accident. While responding, he heard other officers say they found the car and that the driver had fled.
• When Trevezo arrived, Jones had been taken into custody.
• The police investigation found that the hit and run was connected to a domestic incident on the 600 block of Aaron. Police went to a house and met with a woman who said Jones came to pick up their son. She said she did not want to give him “custody” of the boy and told Jones their relationship was over.
• She said Jones became “extremely enraged” and grabbed her by the hair and dragged her down the street. She said he was trying to punch and kick her as he dragged her. She said neighbors were able to separate her from him. He then got into a silver Honda.
• She said Jones drove north on the 600 block of Aaron at a high rate of speed and struck a vehicle in the 1400 block of E. Fifth Street. He turned around and drove south on Aaron, then sideswiped her vehicle and drove into a yard.
• She said he then drove onto the 1300 block of Deschler Street and positioned his car to face her car, which was occupied by her two children. One child is 4 years old (although elsewhere in the complaint the child is listed as 6 years old) and the other is 6 months old. The complaint does not say which child is Jones’ son.
• She said she told Jones not to do anything because her children were in the car. She said he nevertheless intentionally drove into her car, striking the rear driver’s side.
• She said Jones then backed up and fled at a high rate of speed. She said “there were many people in the area as [Jones] drove recklessly through the street.”
• Police said Jones resisted arrest by flailing his arms then attempting to conceal them under his chest while police were attempting to secure handcuffs.

In addition to aggravated assault and driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked, Jones is charged with: simple assault, careless driving, resisting arrest, driving vehicle at safe speed, accidents involving damage to attended vehicle or property, duty to give information and render aid, and reckless driving.

He was arraigned Wednesday afternoon by on-duty District Judge Douglas Schlegel of Wind Gap and committed to Northampton County Prison after failing to post $50,000 bail.