Highland, Lake County-On Tuesday, morning January 31, 2012, at approximately 12:45 am, Highland Police Department received a third party call about a possible domestic situation at the Port De L’eau apartments.  Two Highland officers responded to the address. 

Preliminary investigation revealed the officers were let into the apartment by a male, who was later identified as Joshua R. Jones, 27 of Highland.  Officers related that Jones was cooperating until he saw his mother; whom he then suddenly physically and violently assaulted.  Officers grabbed Jones who then began to fight with them.

Jones tried to remove the gun from one of the officer’s holster who was maintaining his gun by using handgun retention methods.  During this struggle Jones removed the officer’s ASP (expandable police baton) and struck him in the head with it.  The second officer deployed his taser, tasing Jones, which was ineffective.  The same officer deployed his taser a second time, tasing Jones, which again was ineffective.  Jones then went after the officer who tased him striking that officer in his left forearm (as the officer tried to protect himself) with the Asp.  That officer then discharged his weapon striking Jones.

Jones was taken to Community Hospital in Munster where he was pronounced dead.  His family has been notified.  An autopsy is scheduled for later today in Lake County.

Indiana State Police Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators from the Lowell Post are conducting the investigation at the request of the Highland Police Department.

The officer that was struck in the head with the Asp was treated and released for a head injury.  Both officers are on paid administrative leave per Highland Police Department’s Standard Operating Procedure.

No other information will be released at this time.  The investigation is ongoing.

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.