Man Attacked Mercer Courthouse Employee, Broke Window: Sheriff

A man accused of attacking an employee and shattering a window at the Mercer County Civil Courthouse last month has been arrested, Mercer County Sheriff Jack Kemler announced. Dontai Jones, 25, of Trenton, was arrested at his home on March 12 after the sheriff’s office identified him using multiple tips from residents who saw his picture on their Facebook page.

Jones began arguing with the employee when he went to the courthouse seeking information on restraining orders at about 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 20, according to the sheriff’s department. Surveillance cameras caught the argument escalating to the point where Jones attempted to hit the employee before shattering a protective Family Case Management partition window on the courthouse’s second floor, the sheriff’s department said.

A photo of the suspect and his description was distributed to local media and was posted on the sheriff department’s Facebook page. After his arrest, Jones was charged with assault, criminal mischief and obstructing the administration of law. The court employee was uninjured. Jones is being held pending a future court appearance.

“I am grateful to members of the public who called in anonymous tips to help us locate this violent person,” Kemler said. “I am very happy that our Facebook page has become another tool in our toolbox to help fight crime.”

The attached image of Dontai Jones was provided by the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department