Two investigations in progress

According to the original press release, Mesquite Police received a report about a man breaking into a vehicle in the 1300 block of South Town East Boulevard. Police were informed by the caller that the suspect had broken into a pickup truck and was setting off the vehicle’s alarm.

Police arrived at the scene at about 7 p.m. and made contact with the suspect and a confrontation took place. The officer fired his pistol at the suspect, striking him but the suspect reportedly continued to fight until three additional officers arrived to assist and handcuff him.

The alleged suspect was later identified as Lyndo Jones.

According to the press release, the suspect demonstrated such physical strength; it took all three officers to hold him on the ground until paramedics arrived. He was then transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.

During the press conference Lt. Brian Parrish, public information officer, said custody of Jones was handed over to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 10.

"Today was the first day that we could speak to the individual who was shot so we're still investigating." 

Parrish was asked why Jones was charged with evading arrest and not resisting arrest.

"It's my understanding that getting the handcuffs on wasn't the issue, the issue was keeping him from moving around, keeping him from running off or fighting,” he said. "He as actively trying to stand up and get out of the area."

In a live stream on Facebook from Baylor Hospital just hours before the press conference, attorney Lee Merritt said Jones was taken to the hospital in critical condition and held in the ICU for six days. Jones was said to have been held in handcuffs and his family denied access to him.

Merritt said he was contacted by Jones’ family a few days after they discovered he had been shot. Merritt then contact criminal attorney Justin Moore for assistance.

“When Mr. Moore went to visit him he was being unlawfully interrogated by the Mesquite PD under the authority of the Dallas Sheriff’s Department and Mr. Moore had to be forcibly removed from the hospital,” Merritt said.

He went on to say that Jones was shot once in the back and once in the stomach and unlawfully detained and interrogated.

"In terms of the attorney being escorted from the hospital I didn't have any control over that, this department didn't have anything to do with that. The fact is, he is no longer in our custody,” said Parrish.

"When my (criminal) investigators spoke to this individual in the hospital today it was consensual and it was in reference to him being shot. It was not in reference to any offense he may or may not have committed,” he said. "At no point in time did Mr. Jones request an attorney or even implied that he wanted one. In that case we would've stopped talking to him and waited for an attorney to arrive. He was more than willing and able to discuss that he had been shot."

The officer involved, Derick L. Wiley, is a 10 year veteran officer. He has been placed on administrative leave with pay.

Parrish said the investigation continues and they will interview Wiley, and compare their interviews with Wiley and their interview with Jones, as well as any visual evidence and witness statements.

He added there are two separate investigations going on, an internal one for a possible disciplinary case and a possible criminal case, both against the officer.

"Until we speak with everyone involved we don't know exactly what we're going to have,” Parrish said.