By the time Isiah Jones shouted “Twelve! Twelve!” to warn his friends of the sudden police presence on their West Baltimore block, it was too late, according to court records.
A surveillance officer had been watching the 24-year-old and his crew run an alleged cocaine operation out of a vacant house in the violent Tri-District area that March morning, police allege. Jones was arrested on a litany of drug and gun charges, including illegal possession of a rifle.
Jones, who was once accused of trying to shoot a police officer, had previously served time for assault. If found guilty of the new charges, the repeat offender faced a lengthy prison stay.