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Momania: A Blog for Busy Moms

Girl who allegedly killed officer: One bad choice or something preventable?

4:22 pm January 26, 2012, by Theresa Walsh Giarrusso

One of our moms suggested that we discuss what’s happening to the 22-year old Stone Mountain woman who has been accused of driving drunk and killing a police officer with her vehicle.

In case you haven’t seen the story here is the basic gist from the AJC (click for full story and more coverage):

“The Stone Mountain woman accused of being drunk when her car slammed into and killed an Atlanta police officer has been cited six times for traffic violations in five years, the Fulton County District Attorney’s office said Thursday.

“Chasity Nicole Jones, 22, will remain in the Fulton County jail for at least the next two weeks after a Fulton County magistrate judge refused to grant bond at a court appearance Thursday morning. Jones was charged with felony first-degree vehicular homicide as well as two misdemeanors, driving under the influence and failure to yield to person authorized to direct traffic following the death of Senior Officer Gail Thomas.”

“Jones was in a jail courtroom Thursday, where Fulton Magistrate Judge Jessy Lall set bond at $15,000 on the two misdemeanors, but refused to allow bond on the vehicular homicide charge.”

“Jones said nothing during the hearing, but repeatedly turned her head to look at her mother, who sat in the back of the small courtroom. A cousin of the Atlanta police officer killed in Tuesday night’s crash was also in the courtroom.”

“Lall scheduled a preliminary hearing for Jones for Feb. 9 in Fulton Superior Court, at which time her lawyers can ask a Superior Court judge to set bond.”

“This was the first arrest for Jones, but she has been six times for traffic offenses, including four times for speeding, a member of the DA’s office told the judge Thursday. Jones has also been cited twice for making erratic lane changes and twice didn’t show up for court appearances, according to the DA’s office.”

“In Nov. 2008, Jones was cited in Gwinnett County for causing a one-vehicle wreck on Five Forks Trickum Road, Cpl. Jake Smith with Gwinnett police told the AJC….”

To me the story is heartbreaking not only for the officer and her family but for the young woman. I always want to give people the benefit of the doubt and I am wondering if this was one alleged bad decision or the culmination of multiple bad things happening in this young woman’s life?

That does seem to be a large number of traffic violations in a short number of years, and I wonder if there was a way for her parents or the police to intervene before the driving allegedly became worse? I wonder if the driving issues are reflective of other issues/problems as well?

What are you thoughts on the story? Do you have any sympathy for the 22-year-old young woman and her family? Was there any way for this to be prevented?

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163 comments Add your comment

Hello

January 30th, 2012
10:42 pm

@Bob

agreed. but idc wat the definition is, she’s not a murderer….maybe an involuntary manslaughter..er. ha

Hello

January 30th, 2012
10:45 pm

@bob

thats another inconsistency with our laws. kill somebody with a car and suddenly ur less likely to get a life sentence. guess it works in my favor this time but that’s still pretty stupid.

Bob

January 30th, 2012
11:15 pm

@ Hello

I don’t care and society doesn’t care what YOU think the definition of a murder is. When someone is dead, and at someone else’s hand – that makes them a murderer. An accident is something that can not be avoided. This was not an accident – that is why she is being charged with murder 1.

If she is not a murderer, someone would not be dead. Very simple, common sense. She did not accidentally raise the drinks to her mouth, and she did not accidentally fall behind the wheel with her car keys in hand.

Yes, I know, you think “laws” are “pretty stupid”. I hear that from kids like you allllll the time – personal accountability at your age is tough to swallow….you’ll get it someday.

Soccermom

January 31st, 2012
9:38 am

Great points, Bob. MADD is pushing congress to pass a DUI Murder law. It says if you kill someone while driving drunk, you go to jail for an automatic 30 years. Our MADD chapter has written a letter to the DA asking they not let her plea out. This is an opportunity for other teens to learn, and harsh penalties have been a proven method of curtailing drunk drivers.

dc

January 31st, 2012
11:12 am

MADD is a bunch of bored housewives with nothing to do.

Soccermom

January 31st, 2012
11:54 am

dc, sorry you feel that way. We have several “bored: housewives in our chapter that have lost children at the hands of drunk drivers. I would not describe them as bored. They are more devastated and heartbroken than anything else.

TallMom

January 31st, 2012
1:22 pm

“But while everyone sits and points and judges, I’m sure you have all been behind the wheel under the influence as well”

^^^Sorry, but this bugs me. Yes, there are people out there who have NEVER driven under the influence. And I mean NEVER. I’m almost 39yo and I have NEVER had a drink and then driven. Not one. Yep…I’m that responsible. My brother got a DUI in his early 20s. My dad was an alcoholic and had 2 DUIs. I resolved to make better choices.

To this day, if the husband and I are out to eat, only ONE of us enjoys an adult beverage with our meal. Don’t get me wrong…I’m not anti-alcohol…I’m just pro-responsibility.

As for this tragedy…heartbreaking. That 22 yo’s life will never be the same. And a family lost it’s daughter, sister, mother…in one moment, dozens of lives were changed forever. SO sad.

BRADYRULZ!

January 31st, 2012
3:02 pm

Tallmom, me neither. If I’m having more than one drink, I make other arrangements to get home. Have done that since I was 16. My mother felt so strongly about it, that we had an arrangement. No matter what time, now matter how many beers, I would call and she would pick me up. No questions asked, no punishment.

FultonGuard

February 1st, 2012
9:28 am

This is a good lesson for other kids like her. I say this with no malice, just a relay of the facts of prison. She will be raped and sodomized by her fellow inmates. She’s young and cute, and owning her will someones number one priority. Usually within the 1st week the toughest strongest bulldyke will claim her as her property. Once that happens, that bulldyke will trade her for services (drugs, cigs, personal favors).

After 2 or 3 years of this, they not only get used to it, but tend to like it. Woman get lonely in prison (just like men) and have needs that they need filled.

I'm just me

February 1st, 2012
12:09 pm

I give her no sympathy, her own mother yelled at her for what she did, so in my book, she has done it too many times already, It tells me she doesn’t care about the lives of others or herself. That could have easily been her who died, but funny, the drunk driver always never does, I hate to think of it like that, but, she should be made an example out of.

Vanmama

February 1st, 2012
9:17 pm

Well, according to her own mom, this was going to happen sooner than later. RIP, Officer Thomas.

Hello

February 2nd, 2012
11:39 am

@FultonGuard

Indeed, prison is a rough place. It will probably be the best for her though. If someone doesn’t claim her then everyone will want a piece.

Shabaz

February 2nd, 2012
1:40 pm

White trash filth. Let her rot in prison until Gail Thomas comes back to life.

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