The Fayetteville Police Department is facing scrutiny after one of its officers, Jacob Edward Jones, was let go following accusations of sexual battery. Jones, 24, was fired this past Wednesday, and the incident in question took place on May 13. According to WRAL, the internal investigation by the Fayetteville Police Department's Office of Professional Standards was prompted by one officer's claims of Jones's inappropriate touch during a service call.
In light of these allegations, Jones appeared in Cumberland County court, where a judge reduced his initial bond of $25,000 to $10,000. The charged former officer has faced six counts of sexual battery, detailed by surveillance video evidence obtained from a Bragg Boulevard business. Despite the reduction, as the second victim has come forward, Jones' attorney, Andrew Dualan, argued, "He has been a sworn police officer and he still yet to be proven guilty. The system is innocent until proven guilty," during an initial court appearance captured by CBS17.
The Fayetteville Police Department made it clear, in a statement, their commitment to maintaining the highest standards. "We hold our officers to the highest possible standard," they said, confirming that no one within their ranks is exempt from the law. This statement was obtained by WRAL, underscoring the department's position on accountability. Jones, who had been with the department since November 2022, now sees the charges he heard in court casting a deep shadow over his brief tenure with the force.
As the case evolves, now with multiple alleged victims, Jones has stood by his appointed legal counsel. "There are six counts, and they all stem from the same series of transactions. So, in my opinion, it is a little bit overcharged in this case," Andrew Dualan told ABC11 News after Thursday's court hearing. The district attorney's office has indicated that in addition to the second person, even more victims may have had similar experiences with Jones, raising concerns and potential complexities about the prevalence of such conduct within the Fayetteville Police Department.
