Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. We never know what is going to happen in the next second. It could be whether we are alone or with someone. In each scenario, it is best to be as calm as possible and think clearly if we can. That appeared to be the case for a local woman who became the victim of an alleged rape attempt by someone she knew. On May 30, 2023, Monroe police arrested the individual that the victim alleges tried to rape her. It all started back on February 23, 2023, when the victim was at the DeSiard Street residence of Tona “TJ” Jones when MPD responded to a disturbance at the residence. According to police reports, the victim told responding officers that she was at Jones’ residence on February 22, 2023 to hang out with him, and they drank alcoholic beverages throughout the night. She said that they went to sleep but in separate rooms. The next morning, the day of the disturbance, the victim said that she was awakened around 8:30 AM by Jones being on top of her. She said that Jones started to pull down her pants. The victim said she yelled for help as Jones allegedly tried to cover her mouth. The victim said that she then faked a seizure, causing Jones to stop as he hurriedly fled the scene. She told officers that Jones allegedly said, “You’re going to tell on me," while fleeing from the victim with her cell phone. Jones is currently being held at Ouachita Correctional Center, charged with Sexual Battery and Simple Battery.