CBS Atlanta 46DA: Driver who killed cop has history of speeding

DA: Driver who killed cop has history of speeding

The 22-year-old woman accused in a drunken driving accident that killed a veteran Atlanta police officer faced a judge Thursday morning.

Chasity Jones was not given a bond for the charge of first degree vehicular homicide, which means she must stay in jail another two weeks.

Fulton County Magistrate Judge Jaslovelin Jessy Lall did, however, grant Jones two bonds.

One for $10,000 for the charge of driving under the influence and the other, $5,000 for failure to yield to person authorized to direct traffic.

Jones, wearing a Fulton County inmate jumpsuit, turned to her mother sitting in court multiple times, her eyes and face were red and blood shot from crying.

The district attorney's office said that in the past five years Jones has had six traffic citations.

Four of those citations were for speeding the other erratic lane changes, one of which resulted in an accident in Gwinnett County.

The state also said Jones failed to appear in court for four of those citations.

Given her history, Lall did not grant bond for Jones.

"I am really concerned about her erratic inability to appear for court in just the last few years in response to traffic citations and this is an incident arising from a vehicle traffic situation."

Senior Police Officer Gail D. Thomas was killed late Tuesday as she stepped out of her patrol car on the shoulder of I-75 southbound to assist a fellow officer who was working a traffic accident.

The car that struck Thomas, police said, was driven by Jones.

Senior Police Officer Gail D. Thomas' cousin spoke to CBS Atlanta outside the court house after Jones' appearance.  Click here to see the video.

"It was tragic," said Gail Butler, Thomas' cousin. "I was notified by dispatcher and the first one to be on the scene at the hospital it is devastating."

Police said Jones blew a .16 on a breathalyzer test, which is twice the legal limit. Officers said Jones refused to give a blood sample, and a search warrant was obtained to take her blood at a hospital.

A woman claiming to be Jones' Aunt told CBS Atlanta News outside the jail, "I'm sorry it was a terrible accident."

According to police department spokesman John Chafee, one female and two males were in the car with Jones at the time of the accident.

Officer Katie Riester lowered the flags to half-staff Wednesday at the Atlanta Police Department headquarters.

"She was just such a sweet person," Riester said as she fought back tears. "She always had a smile on her face. She had such a wealth of knowledge and loved policing. She will be greatly missed."

Atlanta Police Chief George Turner said Thomas had been employed with the City of Atlanta for nearly 20 years and had been a sworn police officer for 15 years.

"We just ask for the prayers and concerns of our community while we get through this," said Turner.

"I am deeply saddened that one of our police officers lost her life in the line of duty last night," said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. "Senior Police Officer Thomas was a veteran police officer whose sense of duty and commitment to public safety inspired many of her fellow officers.

The City of Atlanta is quiet as we mourn this terrible loss. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and colleagues during this difficult time."

Jones is being housed at the Fulton County Jail. Her next court appearance is Feb. 9.

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