St. Paul Police Department, Minnesota
End of Watch: Friday, August 26, 1994
Age: 36
Tour of Duty: 16 years
Badge Number: 498
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 26, 1994
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Police Officer Timothy Jones and his canine, Laser, were shot and killed after being ambushed by the suspect who had murdered Officer Ron Ryan earlier in the day at the 1100 block of Conway Street in St. Paul.
Officer Jones was off-duty on the morning of August 26, 1994, when his fellow officer Officer Ron Ryan Jr. responded to what appeared to be a routine "slumper" call. A complaint had been received about a man sleeping in a car in a church parking lot on the east side of St. Paul, Minnesota. Officer Ryan approached the vehicle and woke the sleeper, who then identified himself. As Officer Ryan was returning to his patrol car to check the suspect's identification, the suspect shot him from behind with a gun he had hidden underneath his coat. The suspect, who had a warrant for his arrest, then took Officer Ryan's service weapon and shot him several more times. Officer Ryan was rushed to a hospital but died of his wounds. The suspect fled the scene, triggering a massive manhunt as St. Paul police officers pursued him with their highly trained K-9 dogs.
Among them was Officer Jones, who had volunteered to help search for Baker with his K-9 partner. The suspect was hiding near neighborhood homes in a wooded area when the K-9, Laser, picked up his scent. When Officer Jones and Laser approached him, the suspect shot and killed Officer Jones. As he stood over Officer Jones, he was attacked by Laser. He shot Laser four times and then took Officer Jones' service weapon, hid the Officers' service weapons under the porch of a house, and hid underneath a pile of lumber and rubbish next to a porch on the next street over, where he was apprehended.
The suspect pled guilty to murdering both Officer Ryan and Officer Jones and was sentenced to life without parole.
Officer Jones had been with the St. Paul Police Department for 16 years. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
He is buried in Elmhurst Cemetery, Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota.