SOUTH BEND, Wash. - The man who was arrested in the shooting of Trooper Scott Johnson in Long Beach may have been angry that his wife had been pulled over for drunken driving.
It all started in wee hours of Saturday Morning. A woman was arrested for DUI. But after the woman was hauled off by one trooper, Trooper Scott Johnson's job was to process the vehicle, a black van. That's when a man came by and asked the trooper and the driver of a tow truck some questions. The man walked away, and then returned.
The tow truck driver said the man walked up to the trooper, held a gun to the base of his head and pulled the trigger.
On Tuesday, the man accused of committing that crime came before Pacific County Superior Court Judge Michael Sullivan. His name is Martin Jones of SeaView, and the woman accused of DUI is his wife.
In court documents, prosecutors stated After the shot, the shooter stepped back and made some kind of chuckling sound.
Outside of the courtroom, Trooper Johnson's uncle spoke with KING 5.
We just want justice to prevail, he said.
But for the grace of God, Trooper Johnson would be dead. I don't know how else to say it, said Prosecutor David Burke.
Jones' family and lawyers had nothing to say.
Prosecutors say Jones has no previous criminal record. How could such a man be accused of shooting a cop?
This is odd. We normally don't see this, said Burke.
Bail was set at $5 million.
Trooper Johnson is recovering at home.
If you have information about the shooting you are asked call 1-800-283-7808 or outside Washington State 1-360-405-6650.
