Blaine hit-and-run homicide suspect arrested on drunken driving charges

John R. Jones was found slumped over while behind the wheel in Eden Prairie

November 17, 2021 at 3:19PM
John Robert Jones (Anoka County Jail/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The man accused of hitting and killing a Blaine woman who was out walking her dog last month is facing more legal trouble after he was arrested on drunken driving charges.

Eden Prairie police arrested John Robert Jones Nov. 8 after they found him slumped behind the wheel of a car in a no-parking zone at Eden Prairie Center while his girlfriend was in the mall shopping, according to an arrest warrant filed Tuesday in Anoka County District Court.

Jones, 31, had slurred speech, constricted pupils that had no reaction to light, was unsteady on his feet and "very disoriented," the warrant said. Jones also nodded off several times while in detention, the warrant continued.

Police found two used, empty drug needles inside Jones' vehicle and a needle cap in his pants pocket. Police obtained a blood sample; results were pending as of late Tuesday.

Jones was charged with criminal vehicular homicide in connection with the death of Bridget O'Keefe Dunn. She was walking her dog along 109th Avenue at Flanders Court NE. in Blaine just after noon Oct. 25 when she was stuck and killed by motorist who left the scene. Authorities identified the driver as Jones and arrested him a few hours after the incident.

Jones told authorities he thought he struck either a dog or a sign and not a person, the criminal complaint said.

Jones posted $70,000 bail and was released under conditions that he remain law abiding, not use alcohol, mood altering drugs or chemicals, and have a valid driver's license and insurance. Jones' driver's license had been suspended before he hit O'Keefe Dunn and it was still suspended when he was arrested in Eden Prairie, the Department of Public Safety confirmed.

"The defendant has failed to comply with conditions of release," the arrest warrant reads.

Jones was arrested Tuesday and was being held in the Anoka County jail. He is due in court Dec. 9.

about the writer

about the writer

Tim Harlow

Reporter

Tim Harlow covers traffic and transportation issues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and likes to get out of the office, even during rush hour. He also covers the suburbs in northern Hennepin and all of Anoka counties, plus breaking news and weather.

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