Two people are facing drug charges Thursday night after a Gainesville undercover operation that sent one narcotics officer to the hospital with superficial injuries.
Agents with the Multi Agency Narcotics Squad, Gang Task Force and Gainesville Police Department charged Jonathan Jonte Blackwell, 26, of Gainesville, with two counts of aggravated assault on an officer, one count of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute and one count of using a cell phone to facilitate a drug transaction. Sabrina Hammonds-Jones, 41, of Gainesville, faces one count of using a cell phone to facilitate a drug transaction and one count of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. Both were at the Hall County jail Thursday night.
According to a news release, Blackwell agreed to deliver crack cocaine to undercover agents at the Pines on Lanier Apartments, located at 2354 Pine Grove Circle.
When Blackwell arrived at about 5:15 p.m., Gainesville police tried to initiate a traffic stop. Blackwell failed to stop and drove at a high rate of speed through the apartment complex.
Two narcotics agents got out of their cars and identified themselves, with one of the agents drawing his service weapon while ordering Blackwell to stop.
The news release states that Blackwell drove toward that agent, knocking him to the ground. The agent fired his weapon once into the car in an attempt to stop it from leaving the scene. The second narcotics agent was able to avoid being struck.
Blackwell left the complex, driving east on Browns Bridge Road. Officers pursued Blackwell onto Skelton Road where Blackwell’s car struck two of the agents’ vehicles. Blackwell’s car came to a stop at the intersection of Skelton Road and Gainesville Drive, and he was arrested without further incident.
The officer hurt in the operation suffered injuries to his arms and back, and he was treated and released from an area hospital.
According to the news release, the suspects may face additional charges pending the completion of the investigation.