Perdue to thank motorists who helped catch abduction suspect / Associated Press
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue will honor the four travelers Monday who played a key role in last week's capture of Jerry William Jones.
Andrea Sharp, her boyfriend, Jason Roden, and their friends Al and Lizabeth Joy were returning from a trip to Florida when they spotted Jones' Ford Explorer near the Tennessee-Georgia state line and called 911.
That 911 call led to Jones' capture and the safe recovery of the three children with him.
"If that citizen hadn't called, we might still be looking for him," said Trooper Jason Davis of the Georgia State Patrol.
Roden, of Rising Fawn, Ga., told the Chattanooga Times Free Press the group was on its way home from Panama City, Fla., when a wrong turn routed them through Atlanta rather than toward Birmingham, Ala.
Roden said all four travelers saw "Child Abduction Alert" signs as they drove through Atlanta and heard messages on the radio about the search for Jones.
After passing the Calhoun exit on Interstate 75, Roden said they passed a vehicle that fit the description of Jones' Ford Explorer.
From her front passenger seat, Sharp, of Lookout Mountain, Ga., said she made eye contact with the Explorer's driver as they passed.
"I looked up at him, and he looked down at me," Sharp said. "It looked like he was slapping at something behind the seat."
Roden then slowed to drive behind the Explorer, and Sharp handed her cell phone to the Joys, of Cleveland, Tenn., who were sitting in the back seat.
Al Joy called 911 and asked for the license plate numbers on Jones' car.
"It was amazing when the dispatcher's matched those license plate numbers," Joy said.
Joy said it was less than 15 minutes before police took up positions behind Jones, but he says "it seemed like forever."
The four friends said they were glad they were able to help.
"There was a reason for that wrong turn," Sharp said.
Sharp said she received a call Friday from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation with an invitation to meet Perdue Monday.
"They said he wanted to thank all the people involved in this," Sharp said.
Davis forced Jones to crash the Ford Explorer he was driving in East Ridge, Tenn., after Jones left the interstate.
Authorities have accused Jones in the deaths of Tom and Nola Blaylock, Georgia Bradley and 10-month-old Harley Jones.
Funeral services for the four will be held Monday at Trinity Baptist Church in Calhoun.
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It works.
KOD
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue will honor the four travelers Monday who played a key role in last week's capture of Jerry William Jones.
Andrea Sharp, her boyfriend, Jason Roden, and their friends Al and Lizabeth Joy were returning from a trip to Florida when they spotted Jones' Ford Explorer near the Tennessee-Georgia state line and called 911.
That 911 call led to Jones' capture and the safe recovery of the three children with him.
"If that citizen hadn't called, we might still be looking for him," said Trooper Jason Davis of the Georgia State Patrol.
Roden, of Rising Fawn, Ga., told the Chattanooga Times Free Press the group was on its way home from Panama City, Fla., when a wrong turn routed them through Atlanta rather than toward Birmingham, Ala.
Roden said all four travelers saw "Child Abduction Alert" signs as they drove through Atlanta and heard messages on the radio about the search for Jones.
After passing the Calhoun exit on Interstate 75, Roden said they passed a vehicle that fit the description of Jones' Ford Explorer.
From her front passenger seat, Sharp, of Lookout Mountain, Ga., said she made eye contact with the Explorer's driver as they passed.
"I looked up at him, and he looked down at me," Sharp said. "It looked like he was slapping at something behind the seat."
Roden then slowed to drive behind the Explorer, and Sharp handed her cell phone to the Joys, of Cleveland, Tenn., who were sitting in the back seat.
Al Joy called 911 and asked for the license plate numbers on Jones' car.
"It was amazing when the dispatcher's matched those license plate numbers," Joy said.
Joy said it was less than 15 minutes before police took up positions behind Jones, but he says "it seemed like forever."
The four friends said they were glad they were able to help.
"There was a reason for that wrong turn," Sharp said.
Sharp said she received a call Friday from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation with an invitation to meet Perdue Monday.
"They said he wanted to thank all the people involved in this," Sharp said.
Davis forced Jones to crash the Ford Explorer he was driving in East Ridge, Tenn., after Jones left the interstate.
Authorities have accused Jones in the deaths of Tom and Nola Blaylock, Georgia Bradley and 10-month-old Harley Jones.
Funeral services for the four will be held Monday at Trinity Baptist Church in Calhoun.
.........................................................................
It works.
KOD
