COWETA COUNTY, Georgia (CelebrityAccess) — Rapper and reality TV star Jim Jones was arrested in Georgia on Wednesday night after he was involved in what a local newspaper described as a brief police pursuit.
According to the Newnan Times-Herald, Joseph Guillermo Jones, 41, is facing charges including receiving stolen property, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, as well as a slate of drug charges, including narcotics and marijuana possession.
Jones was arrested after Jeremy Wood, an investigator with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, spotted a gray Mercedes SUV traveling south on Interstate 85 that appeared to be having trouble maintaining its lane. Wood says when he pulled close to the vehicle, he noticed the vehicle appeared to be full of smoke that smelled like cannabis, the Times-Herald said.
Deputies then attempted to stop the Mercedes, which they say initially pulled over before trying to speed away, leading deputies on a short chase that was finally ended when Investigator Wood intentionally rammed the Mercedes, Sheriff James Yarborough told the newspaper.
Investigators allege that while conducting a search of the vehicle, they found a backpack that contained 23 Oxycodone pills and a loaded Titan .25 caliber pistol. They also reported finding marijuana scattered around the interior of the vehicle, as well as a Ruger SR 9mm handgun reported stolen from Dekalb County in March. In the back of the SUV, another backpack was located that reportedly contained a variety of Oxycodone, Percocet and THC oil, the Times-Herald said.
According to the newspaper, Jones conceded that he had smoked marijuana but denied being aware of the firearms and stated that he had a prescription for the prescription drugs but did not have it on him at the time.
All four occupants of the vehicle were arrested and transported to a local medical facility for evaluation before being booked into Coweta County Jail early Thursday morning.
The four individuals are currently awaiting an arraignment hearing where a bond amount will be determined.
Jones is best known as one of the founding members of the New York-based hip-hop collective The Diplomats. More recently, he’s pursued a solo career, and in April, released his sixth studio “Wasted Talent” album via Vamplife and EMPIRE Distribution.
Jones is slated to perform at a reunion of The Diplomats at the Regent in Los Angeles on July 15th.
