On Saturday, February 14, 2026, at approximately 1:30 p.m., the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the United States Secret Service requesting assistance in locating Shaun Brian Jones near Riverbend Park.
Within minutes of receiving the request, a Catawba County deputy located the suspect. During the encounter, Jones struck the deputy’s patrol vehicle and fled the area, traveling north on Highway 16 into Alexander County. The deputy lost sight of the vehicle and discontinued the pursuit. The Catawba County 911 Communications Center then notified Alexander County authorities, providing updated information on the suspect and vehicle.
An Alexander County deputy later observed the suspect vehicle traveling north on Highway 16 and attempted a traffic stop using emergency lights and siren. The suspect failed to stop and continued into the Taylorsville city limits, where an officer with the Taylorsville Police Department joined the pursuit.
The vehicle ultimately entered the parking lot of First Baptist Church in Taylorsville and came to a stop. After a brief standoff, the driver exited the vehicle and was taken into custody without further incident.
Shaun Brian Jones, 43, of Grand Isle, Louisiana, faces the following charges:
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Assault on a Government Official (Catawba County)
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Resisting Arrest (Catawba County)
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Failure to Stop for Blue Light and Siren (Catawba County)
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Flee to Elude Arrest with a Motor Vehicle (Alexander County)
Jones is being held at the Alexander County Detention Center under a $90,000 secured bond in Alexander County and a $30,000 secured bond in Catawba County. He is scheduled to appear in Alexander County District Court on February 16, 2026.
Following the arrest, deputies received information regarding a possible explosive device inside the suspect’s vehicle. Hazardous Device Units from the Gaston County Police Department and the Gastonia Police Department responded to evaluate and clear the vehicle.
As a precaution, surrounding roads were temporarily closed with assistance from the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office, the Taylorsville Police Department, and the North Carolina Highway Patrol. The Taylorsville Fire Department and Alexander County EMS were placed on standby.
No explosive device was located inside the vehicle.
The investigation remains ongoing.
