SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Deputies with the Jones County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the location and arrest of a North Carolina man wanted on charges of murder and armed robbery.
Taquan Darden was in Jones County Superior Court Dec. 1, and his extradition order was signed by Superior Court Judge Hugh Wingfield. Darden was informed by the judge that North Carolina had 10 days to pick him up.
Jones County Sheriff Butch Reece announced the Nov. 28 arrest of Darden with a Facebook post. The sheriff said information was received that morning about a stolen vehicle from North Carolina that was believed to be headed into Jones County from Baldwin County.
Darden was suspected as the driver. “Our deputies began patrolling both the Highway 49 and Highway 22 areas looking for the vehicle.
Deputy Dylan Joiner located the vehicle on Highway 49 and confirmed it was the same stolen vehicle from North Carolina. The driver, later confirmed to be Darden, attempted to pull into a driveway to avoid a traffic stop,” he said.
Reece said Joiner pulled in behind the vehicle and was able to take Darden into custody without incident. The suspect was transported to the Jones County Jail to await extradition to North Carolina.
“Great work by Deputy Joiner and the rest of our team who were able to respond quickly,” the sheriff added.
In his report of the incident, Joiner said he was patrolling the area of Highway 49 at approximately 10:23 a.m. Nov. 28 in reference to a be on the lookout for a silver GMC Envoy with a North Carolina tag.
He was advised the driver may be a black male, Taquan Darden, wanted for murder and armed robber. The suspect was possibly armed.
Joiner said he observed a vehicle matching the description headed toward Macon, got behind it and verified the tag. He said the SUV pulled into a driveway. The deputy activated his blue lights and conducted a felony traffic stop.
“I notified dispatch and held the subject at gunpoint until more deputies could arrive,” Joiner said.
Joiner said the suspect complied with verbal commands. He said Deputy Matthew Dennis and Lt. Wesley Ransom arrived to assist, and Darden was taken into custody.
Joiner said the vehicle was searched, and a firearm was found under the passenger seat. The weapon was placed into evidence, and the vehicle was impounded.
