Main: President Donald Trump delivers the Memorial Day Address at the 157th National Memorial Day Observance at Arlington National Cemetery, Monday, May 26, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson). Inset: Shaun B. Jones (Alexander County Sheriff’s Office).
A North Carolina man, aged 43, stands accused of colliding with a deputy’s patrol car and instigating a high-speed pursuit across multiple counties. Authorities sought to stop him for allegedly issuing threats against President Donald Trump.
Shaun Brian Jones was apprehended over the weekend and now faces state charges including assault on a government official, resisting arrest, fleeing or eluding arrest with a vehicle, and failing to stop for a blue light and siren, as indicated by court documents.
The investigation into Jones began when the U.S. Secret Service reached out to the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday afternoon. They were concerned about alleged threats Jones made against the president and requested local authorities to locate him for a welfare check.
That same day, a deputy reportedly identified Jones’ vehicle traveling north on Highway 16 in Conover, about 45 miles northwest of Charlotte. The deputy attempted an “investigative stop,” during which Jones allegedly rammed the deputy’s patrol car while the officer was inside.
Following the collision, Jones allegedly fled the scene, continuing his journey north on the highway.
In Alexander County, another sheriff’s deputy found Jones’ vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. However, Jones reportedly ignored the stop, driving recklessly and exceeding the speed limit by more than 15 miles per hour in an effort to evade law enforcement.
After notifying officials in Alexander County about the situation, authorities located Jones’ vehicle in the parking lot of First Baptist Church in Taylorsville, around 16 miles north. He was taken into custody following a brief standoff, Charlotte-based Fox affiliate WJZY reported.
After Jones’ arrest, deputies reportedly discovered that an explosive device may have been in the defendant’s car. The Gaston County Police Department’s Hazardous Device Units were called to the scene to investigate, and traffic in the surrounding area was temporarily closed, but the vehicle was found to be clear of any dangerous devices.
Court documents did not provide any details about the nature of the threats Jones allegedly made against the president.
In a statement to WJZY, a spokesperson for the Secret Service said the agency “takes any information or activity that could be perceived as a potential threat to our protectees extremely seriously.”
“We investigate and act on such matters swiftly and in close coordination with our law enforcement partners,” the statement said.
Jones had not been charged with any federal crimes as of Monday morning, but the Secret Service reportedly said that its investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
Jones is currently being held in the Alexander County Detention Center on $120,000 bond. He is scheduled to make his first appearance in court on Feb. 16, records show.
