Full Notification

On January 3, 2025, at approximately 1: 37 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report from Denny’s Restaurant located at 1989 South State Road 57 outside of Oakland City that a man had ordered food and left the establishment without paying the $31.67 balance.  Deputy Jim Tucker arrived on scene and showed a picture of the suspect from the Lupe’s and Applebee’s dine and dash incidents from the day before to the employees and they positively identified the suspect as the same person.  Further they gave a description of the male as wearing a black sock hat, gray hoodie, and dark pants and began a search of the area.  After a brief search, 44-year-old Derek Scott Jones was located and taken into custody behind a dumpster at ProRehab an establishment which is across the street.
 
After a brief investigation Mr. Jones was taken into custody and charged with two counts of Theft.  Mr. Jones has an extensive criminal history and currently has 9 non-extraditable warrants out of Illinois. 
 
Deputy Tucker was assisted in his investigation by Deputy Michael Owens and Oakland City Police Chief Tim Gaines.  The Princeton Police Department also aided in the investigation and charges on Mr. Jones.    
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.