Who is Jewell Jones? Michigan Rep threatened to call Gretchen Whitmer during DUI arrest: 'I run y’alls budget'
Police say a Michigan state congressman threatened to call Gov Gretchen Whitmer on cops who arrested him after he crashed his car while driving under the influence. Twenty six-year-old Rep Jewell Jones was allegedly driving at twice the alcohol limit with a loaded handgun in his cup holder when he crashed his black Chevy into a ditch on the side of I-96 in Fowlerville, about 65 miles outside of Detroit, Fox News reported.
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Troopers arrived on the scene as EMS was treating a woman who was in the car with Jones. According to the troopers, the woman told them Jones was driving to her home, however, she did not know how they got into Livingston County and that she did not know they were going the wrong way. Witnesses told police they saw the Chevy Tahoe driving erratically, with one report saying the car was going the wrong way. Another witness told police that they drove alongside the car and the duo inside the car look liked they were asleep. That witness said they honked at the car, which slowed down, before stopping on the side of the freeway. The witness said they were waiting at the scene after calling 911 when the Tahoe rolled into the ditch.
Police said Jones taunted responding state troopers and told them he ran their budget. The whole thing was caught on camera. In fact, officers had to pepper-spray and taser him twice while resisting arrest. "I’m telling you if you do, it's not going to be good for you. I run y’alls budget bro," Jones told police, according to the report.
BREAKING: Dash cam released of Democrat Rep Jewell Jones resisting arrest, threatening to call Gov Whitmer. He had just driven drunk into a ditch pic.twitter.com/8jndId62sp
— Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) April 25, 2021
In 2016, Jones made history by becoming the youngest-ever member of the Michigan House at age 21. On April 6, however, state troopers received several reports of a black Chevy -- with a vanity license plate reading 'ELECTED' -- driving recklessly and erratically on I-96.
In the police report, the responding officer noted that the driver -- later identified as Jones -- appeared to be "highly intoxicated." He was reportedly slurring his words and "his eyes were red bloodshot and glassy and his fine motor skills were poor," per the report.
The report also noted how the officer had tried to talk to Jones, but he didn't want to speak to the officer and walked past him to get into the ambulance. Police said Jones continued to ignore officers' demands and became increasingly agitated, forcing them to use a stun gun and pepper spray in order to subdue him.
"I don't give a f**k bro, when I call (Michigan Governor) Gretchen (Whitmer), I'll need y'all ID's, badge numbers, everything," Jones reportedly told responding officers after they used the stun gun.
According to the police report, Jones continued to actively resist by choosing not "to comply with the simple verbal command of releasing his left arm." He allegedly told police: "I'm not giving you my arm unless you shoot me. You shoot me, I'll get up."
It took at least three officers to handcuff Jones, who continued to taunt them throughout the confrontation.
"If you strike me it's going to be bad for you, if you hit me it's going to be very bad for you. I'll call Governor Whitmer right now," Jones said. According to the report, he also pushed an emergency medical technician in the chest.
Jones's blood alcohol content was more than double the legal driving limit, per the report. What's more? Police also found a loaded .40-caliber Glock handgun in a cup holder inside the Chevy.
The congressman was eventually charged with resisting and obstructing a police officer, operating a motor vehicle with a high blood alcohol content, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, possession of a weapon while under the influence of alcohol, and reckless driving. He was virtually arraigned before a judge on April 16 and faces a minimum two-year prison sentence.
At the hearing, Carolyn Henry, the Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney at Livingston County, described Jones's conduct as "combative and confrontational."