A local police chief showed incredible restraint by not shooting a burglary suspect who threatened him with a knife during a brazen home invasion at his Johnston County home.
It was the second crime allegedly committed by the same suspect in less than an hour.
Around 2:00am Saturday, Johnston County deputies allege 23 year-old Xavier Howard Jones of S. Baker Street, Four Oaks wrecked his car on Raleigh Road outside of Benson. Around 2:05am, Jones allegedly went to a home in the 11000 block of Raleigh Road and broke into a car in an apparent attempt to steal the vehicle. Jones was unsuccessful in taking the car and fled on foot.
Around 3:00am, Jones randomly broke into a home on Johnson’s Chapel Road near Raleigh Road. The address was the home of Erwin Police Chief Johnathon Johnson.
After forcing his way into the police chief’s home, Jones produced a knife and threatened Chief Johnson who had just been awakened by the intruder. Chief Johnson, armed with a firearm, held Jones at gunpoint until Johnston County deputies arrived on the scene.
The suspect was in the process of trying to steal the police chief’s badge, a pocket knife, watch, and keys before he was confronted by Chief Johnson.
Deputies said Jones was highly impaired at the time of the incident and even placed a phone call to 911 from his cell phone while inside the police chief’s home and just before deputies arrived.
Jones is facing multiple charges including first degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, injury to property, breaking and entering a motor vehicle, larceny, and communicating threats. He was jailed under a $160,000 bond.
Chief Johnson and his wife were not injured.
