Sheriff’s deputy fired upon during pursuit



By Peter Failor

peter.failor@gaflnews.com



VALDOSTA — Four men were arrested over the weekend in connection with an armed robbery Saturday night at Charlie Trippers restaurant that led to a car chase and shots being fired at the pursuing sheriff’s deputy.

The drama began shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday when the Charlie Trippers manager and a female co-worker were closing the business on 4479 N. Valdosta Road.

Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk said the two were confronted at gunpoint by four masked black males. The female employee was robbed and placed in the trunk of the manager’s car, and the manager was forced into the restaurant to open a safe.

Paulk said the shaken woman was later released by the trunk from a sheriff’s deputy. The manager was reportedly taken into the woods, where he managed to escaped.

Deputy Kendall Cook was on routine patrol on North Valdosta Road when he saw one of the suspects entering the car at the restaurant and doubled back, said Paulk. The four then reportedly fled, heading back toward Valdosta and then turning onto U.S. 41 North with Cook in pursuit.

“At the same time, (the suspects) leaned out the window and started firing shots at the vehicle,” said Paulk, adding Cook’s car was hit three times.

Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office investigators searched the suspects’ car Monday, and Arnold said there was what appeared to be a 9-mm handgun in the car, along with ammunition for a .380 handgun. A .25-caliber handgun was found in the possession of one of the suspects.

Investigators said preliminary investigation has led them to believe that at least two handguns were fired at Cook’s patrol car, glancing off the sides.

Arnold said the armed robbery call was placed to the 911 center by the manager while Cook was in pursuit of the four.

Paulk said the four were chased north through Hahira and abandoned their vehicle when the Cook County Sheriff’s Office set up a road block just south of Cecil.

“We captured one that night,” said Paulk.

Paulk said the four had exited their car and fled into the woods. Moments later, the four were spotted on foot, heading south toward Hahira on U.S. 41 North where they split up again.

Keshawn Jones, 20, was arrested on the road.

But the other three were not arrested until family members of the Joneses, said to be cousins, alerted authorities to their whereabouts.

Paulk said Steven Copeland, 21, and Marcus Jones, 21, were apprehended at 2 a.m. Sunday at a North Union Road residence belonging to the mother of the fourth suspect, Quarterrio Jones, 20.

“After we got ahold of the three, we couldn’t find the fourth,” said Capt. David Arnold, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Investigations.

Arnold said the Hahira Police Department and state troopers assisted in the chase, and tracking dogs from Valdosta State Prison were called to assist in the search for Quarterrio, but the search was broken off at daylight Sunday.

Quarterrio was persuaded by family members to surrender himself at 5 p.m. Sunday, said Arnold.

Paulk said he is grateful for the assistance of the family members, adding the information gained at 2 a.m. Sunday helped head off a “dangerous situation.”

Arnold said the four are facing two counts of kidnapping, three counts of armed robbery, one count of aggravated assault against a police officer, and one count of use of a firearm during the commission of a crime



To contact reporter Peter Failor, please call 244-3400, ext. 247.