The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department April 1-6, 2022.
April 1
Officer Josey made contact with a local business manager that reported a piece of equipment had been rented and should have been returned the next day, but it was not. An attempt to contact the person that was listed on the rental contract was done with no luck. Josey found another possible contact for the person listed on the rental agreement but had no luck with that contact either. Finally, Josey did find a way to get in touch with the offender, and the offender advised the officer that a friend of his was using the equipment and he would have it brought to the business immediately. A little while later, the offender called and advised his brakes had gone out on his truck and he was trying to figure out how to get the equipment back to the business. After a while, the equipment still had not been returned and Josey tried once again to contact the offender, but he got no answer. The offender sent Josey a text message stating the equipment was in the parking lot of the business. Josey contacted the business manager and the manager advised that the equipment was not there. Officer Josey contacted the offender once again and was told that a friend was on the way with the equipment, and it should be there by that time. After further wait, the equipment still had not been returned. Josey obtained a warrant on the offender via the Jones County Magistrate Judge and sent the information to dispatch to enter the stolen equipment in the GCIC system.
April 2
Deputy Mason was in the area of Hwy. 18 E running radar when he observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. Radar showed the vehicle was going 84 mph in a 55-mph zone. Mason conducted a traffic stop at that time. The driver’s information was checked through GCIC, and it came back to show the driver was entered as a missing person from Tennessee with a drug and mental condition. The driver advised the deputy the incident and information had been cleared up. Tennessee authorities requested a report of the offender’s condition. Mason asked the driver about the drug allegations and the driver admitted to having marijuana in the vehicle. A probable cause search was conducted, and marijuana was located inside the center console of the vehicle. The driver was arrested and charged with speeding and possession of marijuana then transported to the Jones County LEC.
Sgt. Jackson was advised by Deputy Wimberly of a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed that he (Wimberly) could not catch up with after clocking speeds of 110 mph with no success to catch up to the vehicle. Jackson finally caught up to the vehicle after pacing at 90 mph in a 55-mph speed zone. At that time, he activated his blue lights and conducted a traffic stop. When he made contact with the driver, the offender advised she was trying to get home to let her dogs out. While speaking more with the driver, Jackson smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from her person. Jackson asked the driver if she had consumed any alcohol or how many alcoholic drinks she had and she advised she had two drinks about an hour prior to the stop. The driver’s eyes appeared to be bloodshot, and she was swaying while talking to the deputy. The driver consented to a field sobriety test and afterwards was placed under arrest for DUI. The driver was transported to the Jones County Sheriff’s office and charged with speeding 90/55 and DUI.
April 3
Corporal Carr was sitting stationary on Shurling Drive when a vehicle passed by, and he noticed the driver was not wearing a seatbelt. At that time, Carr initiated a traffic stop. As Carr approached the vehicle the driver attempted to exit the car. Carr advised the driver to sit back down, and he complied. The driver advised Carr the reason he was so nervous is that his license was suspended. Dispatch confirmed the license suspension. The offender was transported to the Jones County LEC and issued citations for seatbelt violation and driving while license suspended, then turned over to the jail staff.
Corporal Carr was monitoring traffic on Shurling Drive when his LPR tag reader system alerted to a vehicle for expired registration. Carr at that time initiated a traffic stop. As the vehicle came to a stop, Carr observed the male driver attempting to exit the vehicle. Carr advised the driver to get back in the car in which the driver complied. The driver told Carr he recently purchased the vehicle and had not registered the car in his name. He also told Carr he has failed to put insurance on the vehicle as of yet. While speaking with the offender, Carr noticed the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Carr asked the driver about the odor and the driver advised there was a small amount in the car. Carr conducted a probable search at that time and retrieved a clear bag of marijuana in the driver’s side door pocket. The offender was placed under arrest and transported to the Jones County LEC. The offender was issued citations for driving with no insurance, unregistered vehicle and possession of marijuana less than one ounce, then turned over to the jail staff.
April 6
Deputy Kile was conducting traffic enforcement near Hwy. 49 when his LPR tag reader system alerted to a passing vehicle with suspended registration. Kile conducted a traffic stop at that time. Kile made contact with the driver and asked for her license and proof of insurance. At that time, the driver advised the deputy the insurance was expired. The driver was arrested and transported to the Jones County LEC charged with no insurance and suspended registration.
Officer Hathaway was on routine patrol when he observed a vehicle with a GA tag however the decal was Dec. 2021. Hathaway ran the tag number and found the tag had expired. A traffic stop was conducted at that time. The officer made contact with the driver, and he gave him a Texas ID card. He asked the driver if he had a GA driver’s license and the driver stated no. Hathaway asked if he had a valid Texas driver’s license and he advised it was suspended. Hathaway ran the driver’s information through GCIC, and it came back as being suspended through Texas, and that the driver had a valid warrant out of Monroe County, GA. The driver was placed into custody and transported to the Jones County LEC where he was issued citations for expired registration and driving while license suspended, turned over to the jail staff for processing and a hold placed for Monroe County.
