WILSON’S MILLS – A local police chief is concerned about a low bond set by a magistrate that allowed a suspect back out on the street for a second dangerous encounter with law enforcement officers. Wilson’s Mills Police Chief A.Z. Williams hopes that changes can be made so potentially violent suspects aren’t freed from custody on low bonds to commit more criminal acts.
On March 21, two Wilson’s Mills police officers were involved in a high speed chase along US Highway 70 from Wilson’s Mills to Princeton. The 100 mile per hour pursuit ended when the suspect, Hector Janiel Bones of Smithfield, crossed the centerline and struck two vehicles head-on.
Miraculously, no serious injuries were reported.
The 21 year-old suspect was transported to the hospital for evaluation for injuries Friday night, then taken to the Johnston County Detention Center where he was charged with felony fleeing to elude arrest and three other offenses.
During his arrest, Bones reportedly told the arresting Wilson’s Mills police officer he ran because he “…though terrorist were after him.”
Hector Bones was booked in at the Johnston County Detention Center at 12:47am Saturday, March 22. He was released on a $15,000 bond about 15 hours later, at 3:19pm Saturday.
Less than 24 hours later, Bones once again encountered Wilson’s Mills Police.
Second encounter
On Sunday, March 23 at 10:15am, a police officer was dispatched to a suspicious person call. The caller stated a man was yelling, taking his clothes off, and jumping into the caller’s pond.
A single Wilson’s Mills officer approached the suspect in a nearby residential front yard. The man was Hector Bones.
Chief Williams said Bones appeared to be in mental distress. He moved and spoke very erratically. Most of Bones’ dialogue was unintelligible and made no sense to the officer.
“On several occasions Bones walked toward my officer, who had his Taser out and ready to engage, but he showed incredible restraint. He knew something was not right with the suspect.”
The officer was working the Sunday morning shift alone, so he had to radio for backup from another department.
The nearest backup was a Johnston County deputy sheriff who was 11 minutes away. In the meanwhile, the Wilson’s Mills officer had to deal with the unstable man alone.
At one point, Bones walked in the middle of Main Street, halting traffic and drivers who could clearly see the tense situation between the officer and the unruly man, the police chief said.
“In a nutshell my officer was placed in a position that never should have been. With an adequate bond, Mr. Bones most likely would have still been in custody on Sunday morning pending first appearance, at which time the Court could have seen that he was not right. A higher bond for the lives he endangered was well deserved.”
When backup arrived from the sheriff’s office, Hector Bones was quickly taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation, Chief Williams said.
“I’ve worked many cases throughout my career where incidents like these can go sideways very quickly. Thank God no one was seriously injured in either incident.”
A higher bond would not have solved this man’s mental health crisis…a bond is to ensure court appearance not hold a person unrealistically…kudos to the officers who identified this as a mental health crisis…the need is for better education for our court officials and officers to work together to assess needs such as these to keep our community safe across a multidisciplinary approach rather than pointing fingers…safety of our community should be a collaboration from all community parties/stakeholders/agencies
Well that and to keep people who are a danger to the public or themselves off the street. Guess the magistrate didn’t care.
THIS IS BULL! I punched a guy one time (that totally deserved it) and they gave me a 80k bond! Thank you jocoreport.com for reporting this proof that the justice system is for the criminal not the citizens.
The Joco magistrates office used to give high bonds. It was a deterrent for criminal activity in our county. They got their hands slapped by the powers that be for having it to high a few years ago. Since then they have been forced to give these criminals a slap on the wrist.
What the HEL*?? $15,000 bond?? This man should be charged with attempted murder. He could have killed someone doing the stupid, brainless crap that he did. Now our tax dollars got to pay for him to go to the hospital. B.S. When he ran off the road, he should have killed himself! I mean, he did not care who he may have killed like a LEO or a civilian. What kind of judge gives an animal like him only $15,000 bond. It is a shame that our LEOs put their lives on the line, so some stupid judge puts them back out on the street. There is something very wrong with our legal system as well as our judges. I did not put a capital j for judge because they have not earned that kind of respect.
This is what I wrote in the first article and see what happens. This man is a danger to the public and all LEOs. I do thank the JC Report for printing my article. The law needs to be changed for judges and magistrates. I think if they need to be held responsible for low bond 2nd crimes.
I was arrested back in 2022 for like 6 erroneous charges .. I had made all my court dates which totalled 3 where the arresting officer n supposed witnesses never showed so on my last court date it was during Covid so there was no court in court room 3A n the court clerk told us all that were before her that someone from the court clerks office would contact us for a new court date … my lawyer I didn’t pay intotal cause I felt he was milking me for charges that needed to be dropped .. so that forth court date I was ready due or die I had came alone ready to face the judge n explain that these charges n my lawyer were fake … n explained y n that all my previous court dates no one showed up because the charges were false i was ready to be sentenced should he had felt I was being disrespectful… I was just so tired of coming from wake court to Johnson court for these false charges … check this out … march 5 th 2025 i left home cause I received a call from a friend needing a ride which i did … i got pulled due to outta date tags the officer explained i had an order for arrest from 2022 in Johnson court just certain I would be given a affordable bond seeing I never missed a court date … the judge that issued that order gave me a bond of $350,000.00 cash bond the arresting officer n I nearly fainted he couldn’t believe such a high bond was necessary especially cause he new me from my job where I worked a convenient store that he frequented… I ended up staying locked up for 8 days unnecessarily… judges n lawyers work 2gether n its a shame that people see wrong n don’t challenge the wrong in fear of their jobs being at state should they question the above the law individuals…. Well I ended up getting time served for some BS charges they did this cause I basically fired that lawyer n he was embarrassed n it’s mighty funny that I never faced that judge that issued that $350,000.00 cash bond warrant .. people kill their kids have numerous failures to appears ets n their bonds never exceed no where near the bond amount given to me … I am going to hire an outta state attorney to take my case to get compensated for the injustice received
Don’t break the law and you won’t have to worry….. just sayin’
Good luck with that!
You need to hire a teacher or tutor. Preferably one that specializes in English and grammar.
Is that English?
Good luck to you Dee! I will pray that you will receive some compensation. Folks, all of you out there in Joco, remember this story, remember what Chief A.Z. William has also stated! He is a Police Chief, and he would not make this complaint for just no da*n reason! Vote THEM OUT!!!! We’ve all been complaining about this BOND $h*t for months now,IT’S GOT TO END!!
OFA bonds are set by pre-set parameters. It doubles the original bond of the charges you were called and failed to appear on. So I’m guessing that your original bond in all the 6 matters equaled $175,000? Now as far as lawyers being a scam I do agree with you there. People that pay a lawyer to get them out of speeding ticket just to plead responsible could have done that themselves and not had to pay the fee to the lawyer. Get a lawyer if you want but if the charges aren’t violent or serious misdemeanors I would go it alone.