U.S. Marshals Inspector Awarded for Heroic Acts

Alexandria, VA – U.S. Marshal Bobby Mathieson announces the U.S. Marshals Service recipient of the Department of Justice, Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism.

Inspector John Long for the U.S. Marshals’ Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force will be recognized today for his extraordinary act of courage and voluntary risk of life during the performance of official duties. The inspector will be presented the award for risking his life in the face of grave danger to protect the life of an area woman on the morning of Dec. 9, 2011. The inspector also received the U.S. Marshals Service Director’s Award for Valor in August regarding this act.

While conducting a fugitive investigation along with members of the USMS Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, Inspector Long observed a woman running out of her home, being closely pursued by fugitive Johnny Jones, who was gripping her hair with one hand and holding a pistol in the other.

The woman, who was screaming for help, ran in the direction of Inspector Long. The inspector immediately stepped out of his vehicle, aimed his service rifle at Jones and announced, “Police, U.S. Marshal, drop the gun.” Jones, immediately released the woman (after having ripped hair from her head) and retreated into the house, still holding the weapon.

The inspector secured the woman in his vehicle and summonsed the rest of the team, who were conducting surveillance nearby. It was later determined that Jones had used a brick to break through the woman’s sliding glass door during his attempt to abduct her.

Jones exited out of the rear of the residence, fleeing through the neighborhood and into a section of nearby woods. With the assistance of the Henrico County Police and the Virginia State Police, task force members set up a perimeter and canvassed the area. Inspector Long observed the fugitive crawling out of a nearby shed with pistol still in hand. The inspector aimed his rifle at Jones and gave him commands to drop the weapon and surrender. Jones stood up, tossed the gun and surrendered to the inspector and members of the U.S. Marshals task force.

Jones, a career criminal, was wanted on outstanding warrants for Abduction and Grand Larceny (Petersburg Bureau of Police), Probation Violation after serving time for convictions of Rape, Abduction, Malicious Wounding and Use of a Firearm (Virginia Department of Corrections) and Breaking and Entering and Theft of a Firearm while a fugitive (Dinwiddie County). Jones is also registered for life on the Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry.

Jones was convicted in December in Henrico County for the offenses committed on Dec. 9, 2011, and sentenced to 6 ½ years imprisonment. He faces considerable time for violation of his probation, as well as pending charges in Petersburg and Dinwiddie County.

This event serves to remind us of the sacrifices that our nation’s law enforcement officers make each and every day to protect our communities.

The U.S. Marshals Service arrested more than 36,200 federal fugitives and 86,400 state and local fugitives in fiscal year 2011.