Page: 1 of 8 STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF RAMSEY DISTRICT COURT SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT FILE NO.: PROSECUTOR FILE NO.: 2112695 State of Minnesota, Plaintiff, v. Ernest Travis Jonas (DOB: 05/14/1987) 200 Bridlewood Dr. St. Paul, MN 55119, FELONY CRIMINAL COMPLAINT Summons Warrant Order of Detention Amended Certified Juvenile EJJ Defendant. The Complainant, being duly sworn, makes complaint to the above-named Court and states that there is probable cause to believe that the Defendant committed the following offense(s): COUNT 1 On or about the 19th day of May, 2012, in Ramsey County, Minnesota, the defendant, ERNEST TRAVIS JONAS, did unlawfully cause great bodily harm to another, as a result of operating a motor vehicle in a grossly negligent manner. Said acts constituting the offense of Criminal Vehicular Operation in violation of MN Statute: 609.21.1(1); 609.21.1a(b) Maximum Sentence: 5 years or $10,000.00 fine, or both. COUNT 2 On or about the 19th day of May, 2012, in Ramsey County, Minnesota, the defendant, ERNEST TRAVIS JONAS, did unlawfully cause great bodily harm to another, as a result of operating a motor vehicle, causing an accident and leaving the scene failing to immediately stop and remain at the scene until having given the required information or notice. Said acts constituting the offense of Criminal Vehicular Operation in violation of MN Statute: 609.21.1(7); 609.21.1a(b) Maximum Sentence: 5 years or $10,000.00 fine, or both.
STATEMENT OF PROBABLE CAUSE Page: 2 of 8 The Complainant states that the following facts establish probable cause: Your complainant is an investigator with the St. Paul Police Department and she bases this complaint upon a review of reports and upon her own investigation. On May 19, 2012, St. Paul Police Officers responded to 394 Lafond Avenue in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, regarding a hit and run motorcycle incident. Comments on the call stated that the 911 caller was hysterical and that a motorcycle struck a 4-year-old child. Officers arrived and located an adult female, identified as M.S., d.o.b. 09/30/1982. She was on the steps of a home holding a small male child, later identified as T.B., d.o.b. 05/19/2008. M.S. was crying and very upset. Officers could see road rash on T.B. s legs, arms and face. T.B. was gurgling and gasping. Medics arrived and transported T.B. to Regions Hospital. Officers learned that several witnesses saw the incident. They stated that a male, later identified as the defendant, ERNEST TRAVIS JONAS, D.O.B. 05/14/1987, was driving a motorcycle in a reckless manner earlier that day. He was driving very fast on a blue crotch rocket sport motorcycle. Neighbors in the area had yelled at the defendant to slow down. The motorcycle stopped at a red apartment building on the corner of 434 Lafond. The defendant went into the building. About 5 minutes later the defendant got back onto the motorcycle and was popping wheelies and driving very fast on eastbound Lafond. M.S. told police that she was walking her son, T.B., to her truck parked eastbound on Lafond across from 407 Lafond. She held onto T.B. s hand while he walked on her left side. She was preparing to place T.B. in her truck. She then heard what sounded like a motorcycle engine behind her. The motorcycle then struck T.B. throwing him through the air. He landed under another vehicle in front of her. Other witnesses described seeing the child s shoes flying through the air after impact. Officers did recover a small pair of shoes at the scene. Witnesses stated that the defendant looked back after he struck the child, but he made no effort to stop. He continued driving eastbound on Lafond. All witnesses stated that the defendant was driving very fast, popping wheelies, and driving in a reckless manner. Investigation revealed that the defendant s female friend lived in an apartment in the area. This investigator was able to make contact with the defendant by telephone. The defendant then turned himself in on May 20, 2012 at about 1700 hours. This investigator interviewed the defendant at the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center after first advising him of his Miranda Rights. During the interview the defendant stated that he was driving the motorcycle eastbound on Lafond. He said he came up to the stop sign. He said that he had the motorcycle in first gear and was going 35 to 40 miles per hour. He said when he left the stop sign he gave the motorcycle gas and the front end popped up in a wheelie. He said the front of the motorcycle came back down and he could see a woman standing at the back of a vehicle. He said that a little boy then came running out from the area of the sidewalk. He stated he didn t see the child until it was too late. He struck the child with the right side of the motorcycle. He said he saw a bunch of men running towards him yelling. He said he became fearful and he drove off without stopping. He stated that he stored the motorcycle in a friend s garage near Edmund and Oxford.
Page: 3 of 8 Hospital staff told police that T.B. is undergoing medical treatment for a skull fracture, a laceration to the left rib cage area with exposed internal organs. He was listed in critical condition after surgery. The driver s license record reveals that the defendant s driving status is revoked for speeding tickets and failure to appear or pay fines.
Page: 4 of 8 Complainant requests that Defendant, subject to bail or conditions of release, be: (1) arrested or that other lawful steps be taken to obtain Defendant s appearance in court; or (2) detained, if already in custody, pending further proceedings; and that said Defendant otherwise be dealt with according to law. COMPLAINANT S NAME: Valarie Namen COMPLAINANT S SIGNATURE: Subscribed and sworn to before the undersigned this day of, 20. NAME/TITLE: SIGNATURE: Being authorized to prosecute the offenses charged, I approve this complaint. Date: 05/21/2012 PROSECUTING ATTORNEY S SIGNATURE: Name: Steven R. Pfaffe Assistant Ramsey County Attorney 50 West Kellogg Blvd, #315 St. Paul, MN 55102 651-266-3222/da Attorney Registration #169274
Page: 5 of 8 FINDING OF PROBABLE CAUSE From the above sworn facts, and any supporting affidavits or supplemental sworn testimony, I, the Issuing Officer, have determined that probable cause exists to support, subject to bail or conditions of release where applicable, Defendant s arrest or other lawful steps be taken to obtain Defendant s appearance in court, or Defendant s detention, if already in custody, pending further proceedings. Defendant is therefore charged with the above-stated offense. SUMMONS THEREFORE YOU, THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANT, ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear on the day of, 20 at before the above-named court at to answer this complaint. IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR in response to this SUMMONS, a WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST shall be issued. WARRANT Execute in MN Only Execute Nationwide Execute in Border States To the Sheriff of the above-named county; or other person authorized to execute this warrant: I hereby order, in the name of the State of Minnesota, that the above-named Defendant be apprehended and arrested without delay and brought promptly before the abovenamed court (if in session), and if not, before a Judge or Judicial Officer of such court without unnecessary delay, and in any event not later than 36 hours after the arrest or as soon as such Judge or Judicial Officer is available to be dealt with according to law. ORDER OF DETENTION Since the above-named Defendant is already in custody, I hereby order, subject to bail or conditions of release, that the above-named Defendant continue to be detained pending further proceedings. Bail: $75,000.00 Conditions of Release: This complaint, duly subscribed and sworn to, is issued by the undersigned Judicial Officer this day of, 20. JUDICIAL OFFICER: NAME: TITLE: SIGNATURE: Sworn testimony has been given before the Judicial Officer by the following witnesses: Clerk s Signature or File Stamp: COUNTY OF RAMSEY STATE OF MINNESOTA STATE OF MINNESOTA vs. ERNEST TRAVIS JONAS Plaintiff, Defendant. RETURN OF SERVICE I hereby Certify and Return that I have served a copy of this COMPLAINT - WARRANT AND ORDER OF DETENTION upon the Defendant herein named. Signature of Authorized Service Agent:
FINDINGS OF FACT Page: 6 of 8 Probable cause found that defendant committed the offenses charged. Ordered defendant's motion to dismiss denied. Plea of not guilty to all counts entered. Trial and hearing on all issues set. Dated: JUDGE OF DISTRICT COURT
DEFENDANT DATA / CHARGE SHEET ATTACHMENT A Page: 7 of 8 DEFENDANT NAME: ERNEST TRAVIS JONAS DOB: 05/14/1987 Defendant alias name(s): Defendant last known address: Ernest Travis Jones Rolston Jonas 200 Bridlewood Dr. St Paul, MN 55119 Alias DOB(s): State ID: MN11ER7911 Fingerprint ID: 288382 FBI ID: 210244RC0 St. Paul PD ID: Offender ID: OTHER DEFENDANT / CASE IDENTIFIERS: Fingerprinted? No Yes Handgun permit? No Yes (Issuing Agency: ) Location of violation: IF DRIVING OFFENSE: Driver's License Number: Issuing State: License Plate Number: Issuing State: Accident Type: No injury/no damage Property Damage check all that apply Personal Injury Fatality Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC):
Page: 8 of 8 FELONY WARRANT AND ORDER OF DETENTION COMPLAINT CT OFFENSE NO DATE STATUTE TYPE STATUTE NBR STATUTE DESCRIPTION OFFENSE LEVEL MOC G O C AGENCY ORI CN NBR FUNCTION 1 05/19/2012 Charge 609.21.1(1) Criminal Vehicular Homicide or Operation - Operate Motor Vehicle in Grossly Negligent Manner Penalty 609.21.1a(b) Criminal Vehicular Homicide or Operation - Great Bodily Harm to Person or Unborn Child 2 05/19/2012 Charge 609.21.1(7) Criminal Vehicular Homicide or Operation - Driver Who Causes Accident Leaves Scene Penalty 609.21.1a(b) Criminal Vehicular Homicide or Operation - Great Bodily Harm to Person or Unborn Child F J1A21 N St. Paul Police Dept. ORI - MN0620900 CN - 12116904 Charging F J1321 N St. Paul Police Dept. ORI - MN0620900 CN - 12116904 Charging