The power of a jury was evident once again when a Jones County defendant decided to enter a guilty plea after the first round of jurors were questioned in preparation of his trial.
Tyrone Deshawn Jackson entered a guilty plea May 26 and received a sentence of three years to serve in confinement with credit for time served in custody.
He was arrested Nov. 2, 2025, by Gray Police Officer Dylan Joiner following a chase.
At the time of his arrest, Jackson, 45, was charged with three counts of aggravated assault against a police officer, theft by receiving stolen property (felony), two counts of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, obstruction of law enforcement officer (misdemeanor), reckless driving, speeding in excess of maximum limits, headlight requirements, suspended or revoked license and driving on the wrong side of a roadway.
Jackson was indicted by a Jones County Grand Jury Dec. 5, 2025, for theft by receiving stolen property and obstruction in addition to fleeing and eluding. A report of the arrest states the encounter began when Joiner was notified of a vehicle stolen out of Bibb County.
The officer spotted the Nissan Versa and attempted a traffic stop. Joiner said the vehicle slammed on brakes and appeared to intentionally cause a collision. When that did not work, the driver, later identified as Jackson, accelerated.
The chase headed toward Macon at times on the wrong side of the road. Following an attempted PIT maneuver to stop the car to avoid endangering motorists, the chase headed toward Milledgeville.
Joiner said several attempts were made with the assistance of other officers to stop Jackson, but he continued on Highway 22 reaching speeds of 110 mph in a 55 mph zone. The time of the chase was 10 p.m., and the Nissan did not have its headlights or taillights on.
The officer said there were more attempts of sudden braking to cause a collision with patrol cars. He said Baldwin County officers were contacted and placed spike strips at Brown’s Crossing. The spikes deflated the tires of the Nissan, but it continued on, albeit at a much slower speed. With the help of GPD Officer Michael Holloway and Baldwin County officers, the vehicle was forced to the shoulder of the road and stopped.
Jackson did not comply with officer commands, and tasers were deployed several times before he could be removed from the car.
