A Muncie man on Friday was found guilty of two felony charges stemming from a May 2016 incident that saw him shot by a police officer.
MUNCIE, Ind. – A Muncie man on Friday was found guilty of two felony charges stemming from a May 2016 incident that saw him shot by a police officer.
A Delaware Circuit Court 5 jury found William Oliver Jackson Jr., 54, guilty of aggravated battery, a Level 2 felony carrying up to 30 years in prison, and aiding, inducing or causing dealing in heroin, a Level 3 felony with a maximum 16-year sentence.
During the week-long trial, Deputy Prosecutor Doug Mawhorr presented evidence that Jackson was the driver of a van that fled from a traffic stop on the city’s northeast side on May 6,2016.
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The stop was related to a heroin-dealing investigation by the Muncie Police Department’s narcotics unit, and an officer was standing on the van’s side rail when Jackson sped away.
Authorities said the officer yelled for Jackson to stop and fired his handgun, apparently wounded the driver in an arm, as the vehicle continued to travel at a high rate of speed.
The officer was thrown from the vehicle when Jackson swerved, and suffered a broken collarbone.
Jackson and two co-defendants – George Neloms, 60, and James W. Tabb, 56 – were arrested after the van came to a stop nearby. More than 30 grams of heroin were recovered.
A witness this week testified she earlier purchased heroin from Tabb, at the time riding in the van driven by Jackson.
After jurors returned the guilty verdicts Friday afternoon, Judge Thomas Cannon Jr. told them they would have to determine whether Jackson had the two prior unrelated felony convictions necessary to be declared a habitual offender.
Court records reflect Jackson has been convicted of robbery, dealing in cocaine and domestic battery (three times) .
Neloms, convicted of possession of a narcotic drug, was sentenced to nine years in prison in April.
Tabb – facing four related charges, including three counts of dealing in heroin – is set to stand trial in December.
