Suspected cop killer has ties to city

The man now charged with the Saturday shooting death of an Aiken Public Safety officer grew up in North Augusta and attended North Augusta High School as a freshman before reportedly being caught with a weapon on campus, according to reliable sources who asked to remain anonymous.

Accused cop-killer Joshua Tremaine Jones was arraigned on charges stemming from the Saturday shooting death of Master Cpl. Sandy Rogers. He shuffled into bond court Monday in shackles and a striped orange jumpsuit where he appeared, muttering and growling before Judge Donna Williamson.

He will not be released.

Jones, 26, has been charged with the murder of Rogers and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

His bond on the weapons charge was set at $10,000. A magistrate judge cannot set bond on a charge carrying a life sentence, and no bond was set for the murder.

Judge Williamson added that Jones wouldn't be able to receive a bond because Richmond County officials have a hold on the accused man for his alleged role in the murder of his 21-year-old pregnant girlfriend, Cayce Vice. Her body was found around 10:30 a.m. Saturday at her apartment in Richmond County. She had been shot in the head sometime before Rogers was gunned down at 7:40 a.m. in Eustis Park, officials said.

Jones led police on a high-speed chase that eventually brought officers to Jones's Batesburg home, where he was detained around 11:30 a.m. The vehicle he was driving last Saturday morning belonged to his father, James Jones of Belvedere, who said he had reported to authorities his son had stolen his BMW on Friday night.

When Williamson confronted Jones with the charges against him in court Monday, she asked him if he had an attorney. He refused counsel and then cursed at the judge. He growled and mumbled for the remainder of the hearing.

His behavior was "very disturbing," said Capt. Troy Elwell, with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.

But the captain said he wouldn't speculate on the accused killer's mental health, saying that he wasn't sure whether the growling, shaking and cursing were a part of an act.

Jones' father said he has never seen his son act as he had, but did admit that the accused murderer stabbed him when his son was 16.

The elder Jones described his son as having a "condition," but said doctors have not diagnosed him with any particular disorder. He said he believes his son is mentally unstable.

Lt. Tim Thornton with the North Augusta Department of Public Safety said Joshua Jones was picked up last July when the driver of the vehicle in which he was a passenger was stopped for seatbelt violation. At that time the younger Jones was charged with seatbelt violation as well, carrying a concealed weapon and giving false information to an officer. "He was charged and taken to jail. He then bonded out and was out on 'time payment,'" said Thornton, who acknowledged Jones didn't pay the fine, so a report of breach of trust was being filed.

"There's a real problem here," James Jones said after the hearing Monday morning. "Hopefully, he can get some serious help."

But Joshua Jones has been in a mental health center in the past year and has been on medication, the man's father told reporters. He said his son was released from a mental health center in August.

According to the South Carolina Code of Law, a defendant can claim a defense of not guilty by reason of insanity but would have the burden of proving an inability to "distinguish moral or legal right from moral or legal wrong."

Before a defendant can argue a defense of not guilty by reason of insanity, the defendant would first have to be found competent to stand trial or to meaningfully participate in his or her court proceedings.

In June, Joshua Jones attempted suicide because he was reportedly "depressed" and shot himself in the head while he was in the woods near his Clearmont Drive home in North Augusta, according to reports filed with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.

The deputy who responded to the home described seeing a dried line of blood extending from Joshua Jones' left temple to his left ear lobe. At the time, EMS personnel said Jones' vital signs were good, and he did not appear to have an life-threatening injuries.

Jones was reportedly more gravely injured only months prior when he was found lying on the side of Door Street near Edgefield Highway.

On March 2, 2011, he was reportedly beaten severely, suffering lacerations on the right side of his face.

Doctors at the trauma center in Georgia said Jones was being treated for internal bleeding.

James Jones said he doesn't understand how or why his son has survived after having had so many brushes with death.

The accused killer's father attended the Saturday night press conference where he said, "My heart really goes out to this family - to all the victims' family."

The accused has appearances scheduled in court on March 9 and again on June 1.

The death of Master Cpl. Rogers is the second such death in the last six weeks for Aiken Public Safety.

Last Saturday morning Rogers found the accused gunman, Joshua Jones, 26, in a 2002 blue BMW and an altercation ensued, police said.

A minute after she reported being out with the blue vehicle, another officer called for her.

She did not respond, and a fellow officer on her shift called out that shots had been fired and an officer was down.

Rogers had been shot, and EMS was notified, officials said.

Officers followed after the fleeing BMW, pursued the accused shooter at speeds in excess of 100 mph from the park and issued an all-points bulletin search for him and the stolen vehicle.

Sgt. Karl Odenthal was overheard on police radio traffic during the pursuit saying, "I am going 110 (miles per hour), and he is still leaving me in the dust."

Officers lost sight of the accused shooter and called on a helicopter to aid in the search.

"As the investigation continued with assistance from (the Aiken County Sheriff's Office), the State Law Enforcement Division and other agencies, a suspect was developed and later taken into custody by officers," said Aiken Public Safety Director Charles Barranco.

Around 11:30 a.m., Jones was taken into custody at his residence on Youman Street in Batesburg.

In response to the chain of events, Aiken Public Safety's newly appointed director held an emotional press conference Saturday night recognizing Rogers' service to the community.

Aiken Chief Charles Barranco was among community leaders and dozens of fellow law enforcement officers from numerous agencies when he addressed the media.

An Aiken native, Rogers was born on Feb. 11, 1963.

She began her career with Aiken Public Safety in January of 1984 and worked her way up the ladder, receiving multiple awards and commendations.

"Master Cpl. Rogers was an invaluable street cop who exemplified the model of a Public Safety officer," said Barranco. "Master Cpl. Rogers was a highly skilled investigator and senior patrol officer on her shift."