On October 17, 2012, the US Marshals Service announced that Inspector John Long of the US Marshals’ Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force will receive the Department of Justice, Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism.  He is receiving the award for risking his life during field duties when he saved the life of a woman in the Eastern District of Virginia.  

During an investigation, Inspector Long noticed that a woman came running and screaming out of her home.  She was chased by Johnny Jones, a wanted fugitive, and he was ripping at her hair and holding a pistol in his other hand.  

Inspector Long immediately exited his vehicle and pointed a service rifle at Jones.  After he demanded Jones to drop his gun, the fugitive released the woman and ran back inside of her home.  Inspector Long safely placed the women in his vehicle and called for the rest of his team that was conducting surveillance nearby.  

Jones proceeded to flee from the house—where he broke in using a brick—and he ran through the neighborhood into a patch of woods.  Inspector Long chased after Jones, and he eventually spotted him crawling out of a shed with the gun in his hand.  Inspector Long pointed his rifle at Jones a second time and demanded that he drop the weapon.  Jones threw the gun and surrendered on the spot.  

Jones was wanted for abduction, grand larceny, and probation violation after serving time for rape, abduction, using a firearm, breaking and entering, theft, and malicious wounding.  He is a registered sex offender in Virginia as well.  

Jones received 6 ½ years in prison for the offenses that occurred on the day Inspector Jones risked his life.  He will face more time for the probation violations.  

Source: U.S. Marshals Service