CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — There has been a history of trouble for a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer accused of assault, records show.
Officer David Jones' record shows a string of suspensions and years of disciplinary actions. The most recent action was just two months ago.
Now another man has stepped forward and said he was involved in a car accident with Jones' mother. She called her son, who is now accused of beating up the man.
Jones is suspended with pay after being charged with assault. But Eyewitness News has uncovered evidence of five other times Jones has been in trouble with superiors at CMPD.
The bruises on the face, arms and back of Rick McVicker are difficult to look at. He said he got them last Wednesday from off-duty police officer Jones, who he said jumped him after he was involved in a fender bender with Jones' mother on Sardis Road.
"I was grabbed by the arm and thrown face first into the concrete," McVicker said.
Police suspended Jones with pay while the case plays out in court.
CMPD records show Jones was suspended for six weeks in March of last year, two days in August, 2006, and another week in August, 2004.
CMPD officials said personnel laws prevent them from disclosing the reasons for the suspensions, but sources said one of them involved violating the department's rules while he was coordinating off-duty security for for a dozen or more Charlotte apartment complexes.
In addition, Jones had two other one-day suspensions. One was as recently as October.
All of the news about Jones has not been bad, though. It was Jones who spotted, stopped and arrested Demetrius Montgomery, who was later convicted of killing two police officers in 2007.
However, all of the suspensions has Councilman Michael Barnes asking for answers.
"Because of what happened, it's more important to know details of what happened and why it happened. As I said, he was off-duty, but it does obviously have a potential to reflect on Charlotte," barnes said.
The records show in addition to suspensions, Jones was given written reprimands and counseling from superiors.
His current suspension is with pay, but there is also an active investigation by both Matthews Police, where the alleged assault took place, and by internal affairs at CMPD.