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East Texas man arrested after crashing into elementary school building in Palestine

At the intersection of Bassett and Saltworks, the vehicle left the road, struck a fence and the side of the Westwood Elementary School.

PALESTINE, Texas — A Palestine man was arrested after he crashed into an East Texas elementary school while evading officers Monday morning. 

James Keith Jones, 24, is charged with evading arrest/ detention with a vehicle and evading arrest/detention on foot. He was booked into the Anderson County Jail.

Police said officers were called to a business in the 3200 block of West Oak regarding a wanted suspect at the location. He was identified as Jones and found to have multiple felony warrants in a neighboring county. 

Officers found Jones driving a Ford Focus and they attempted to stop the vehicle, but he refused. Jones fled north on Bassett Road, according to police. 

Credit: Palestine Police Department

At the intersection of Bassett and Saltworks, the vehicle left the road, struck a fence and the side of the Westwood Elementary School. He left the vehicle, ran on foot and after a short chase, he was arrested. 

The school was placed a lockdown during the incident. No one was injured. Westwood ISD Police Department also responded.

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