DeKalb officer accused of kidnapping, attacking detainee

<p>When DeKalb County police announced the arrest of Robert Williams for allegedly kidnapping and attacking an officer, Chief Louis Graham said he believed the suspect had "acted with the intent of killing the officer."</p><p>But after questioning Officer Ronald W. Jones, investigators began uncovering a very different story. By Friday, they dropped all charges against Williams and instead charged the 47-year-old officer with three felonies, including kidnapping.</p><p>"At the very beginning of this investigation," Graham said Friday, "(investigators) determined something was amiss."</p><p>Jones had arrested Williams, 33, last Sunday night for loitering and later told his superiors that the suspect overpowered him, stuffed him in the trunk of his own police cruiser and drove him to a wooded area, where he tried to kill him. Jones said he managed to draw a knife and stab Williams, who then ran away.</p><p>After a seven-hour manhunt, Williams was arrested Monday morning.</p><p>But according to Williams' version of events, Jones was the one who drove out to the wooded area in Rockdale County after the Sunday night arrest.</p><p>"He didn't get on the interstate to go to the jail," Williams said. "I asked him where he was taking me and he said ... 'I'm taking you where I take all the guys that walk around on my beat.'"</p><p>After stopping the car, Jones ordered him out of the car and then struck him at least twice with a baton, Williams said, adding that he then began fearing for his life.</p><p>"I thought, I got to go for what I know, it's life or death. I lunged at him," he said.</p><p>The two men were locked in a struggle, when Jones pulled out a knife and stabbed him, Williams said. The officer also fired his gun at him but missed. Police later confirmed Jones' gun was fired.</p><p>Williams said he eventually was able to free himself and run into the woods, where he hid until daybreak.</p><p>The police chief declined to discuss details of the struggle between the officer and Williams on Friday, but suggested that Jones previously may have kidnapped other detainees.</p><p>"We have information that he has done this before," Graham said. "We encourage anyone this has happened to before to come forward."</p><p>Jones was released from Atlanta Medical Center by Saturday morning and was in the DeKalb County Jail.</p><p>Graham said Jones had resigned from the force.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x2864c0c)</p>