The Galveston County Daily News

GALVESTON — With light barely filtering in only one of Courtney Terrell Jones’s severely swollen eyes, the man accused of shooting at a Galveston police officer said he wished he hadn’t tried to run from an early morning traffic stop.

Police, citing an ongoing investigation into the incident, have declined to release information beyond a preliminary briefing Tuesday.

Police allege Jones, 27, failed to signal a turn early Tuesday and tried to elude officer Chad Powers in the 3400 block of Sealy Street.

A foot chase ensued, Galveston police spokesman Capt. Walter Braun said Tuesday. Police accused Jones of shooting at Powers, and said Powers returned fire. No one was injured, Braun said.

Jones fought with police, Braun said, and was tackled and handcuffed, but Jones denied having an altercation.

The father of five sat on his front porch Thursday afternoon, shortly after his release from the county jail on $60,000 bond for a felony evading charge, and told The Daily News he knew there was a police officer trying to stop him.

“I was a half-block from my house,” Jones said. “I thought I was going to make it and let my people see what would happen. Then, the guy hit my car. It scared me. I jumped out and ran. I wish I had just stopped.”

Jones said he heard a gunshot, fell to the ground and was handcuffed.

Braun said Tuesday that Jones was bleeding from the mouth and a medical helicopter flew him to a Houston hospital.

Braun said police suspected Jones had ingested a narcotic.

“They beat me until I was unconscious,” Jones said. “I woke up in Houston, and they wouldn’t let me call my family.”

Jones was emphatic when he said he had no drugs or a weapon. He said he was released from the hospital Tuesday and taken to the Galveston County Jail.

Although Jones was unconscious, he said he doesn’t believe police tested his hands or clothing for gunshot residue.

Police, who were digging through hurricane debris in an alley Tuesday looking for evidence, haven’t revealed whether they recovered a weapon. It is also unclear whether police preformed or had someone test for residue.

Menaisha Johnson said she can think of no reason that would justify her husband’s appearance.

She said because her husband can’t see, he can’t provide for his family. Jones said he worked as a landscaper until Hurricane Ike hit Galveston on Sept. 13, causing severe flooding and damaging much of the upper Texas Coast.

Jones worked in debris removal until the incident with police, he said.

“I’m a happy daddy,” Jones said, straining to see which child was lying in his lap. “The bullet missed me, and I’m happy for that, but they had no right to beat me.”