Wanted domestic abuser on the run for months finally caught by police

MASON CITY – A man with a violent past who had avoided capture on a warrant for months was nabbed by cops and taken to jail.

An alert Cerro Gordo county deputy witnessed a vehicle near Federal Avenue and 14th Place NW after 1:30 AM on February 12, when a passenger in the car threw litter out the window. The duty conducted a traffic stop, and after an investigation found that the litterbug riding in the car was a wanted man, 28-year-old Tony Joe Jones. Jones, a convicted felon domestic abuser, had been wanted since October 6, 2016, on an arrest warrant in connection to his conviction for that crime, in which he got a lenient suspended prison sentence.

Jones was charged with littering, possession of drug paraphernalia and promptly taken to the Cerro Gordo county jail, where he remains incarcerated on $5,000.00 bond. He awaits a March 3 probation revocation hearing, at which a judge will get a second chance to send this violent man to prison.

Jones has previously been accused of crimes such as riot and criminal felony gang activity, escape and at least three domestic assaults. Around midnight on July 6th, 2014, a caller reported receiving a message that an individual had been assaulted and needed assistance at 204 8th Street SW. A Mason City police officer located the victim and Jones, who was arrested and charged. Jones later accepted a plea deal that resulted in 2 years’ probation, suspended jail of 358 days (he had to serve 7) and a suspended fine. In 2009, he was accused of felony second-degree robbery and false imprisonment, but worked out a plea deal and the robbery charge was dropped.