Police find 3 wanted on warrants

The fugitive the officers sought remains at large.

YOUNGSTOWN — In their search for a fugitive on the South Side, deputy U.S. marshals came across three men in a car — all wanted on warrants — and found a stolen gun.

As they approached the fugitive’s last known address in the 600 block of West Delason Avenue on Monday, the officers saw a Pontiac backed into the driveway and smoke billowing from the open windows. They smelled burnt marijuana as they got closer.

The front-seat passenger, Jason L. Jones, 25, of Halleck Street is on probation to the Ohio Adult Parole Authority. In August 2007, he was convicted of heroin possession, heroin trafficking and possession of cocaine. He was also convicted of cocaine possession in late 2004, records show.

Jones was wanted on a warrant issued last week for failure to appear in municipal court in a drug possession case. The new charges are improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle and having a weapon under disability, based on previous convictions. A loaded handgun, reported stolen by Coits- ville police, was found under his seat, reports show.

He remains in jail in lieu of $105,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 18.

The driver, Raymond E. Briskey, 23, of Mariner Street was wanted on a warrant for failure to appear in municipal court last August for sentencing in a driving under suspension case. The sentencing is now set for Feb. 27.

The rear passenger, Willie E. Jones, 29, of Halleck Street was wanted on a warrant for failure to comply with conditions of probation set forth in November in municipal court in a driving under suspension case. He failed to sign up for four months’ electronically monitored house arrest, reports show.

His probation-violation hearing is set for Feb. 18. His relationship to Jason Jones wasn’t immediately clear.

The fugitive the officers sought remains at large.