The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department May 6-13, 2022.
May 6
Lt. Hunnicutt was stationary in the area of The Crossing when he observed a vehicle make a left turn and there was no license plate on the car. Hunnicutt pulled out and followed the vehicle. As he followed, the driver increased her speed and drove off the right side of the road several times, and the left brake light was not working. Hunnicutt activated his blue lights and conducted a traffic stop. As the driver stopped, Hunnicutt could see a temporary paper tag taped in the rear window of the vehicle. When the lieutenant made contact with the driver to explain the reason for the stop, he could smell the odor of green and burnt marijuana coming from inside the car. Hunnicutt had the driver and the passenger in the vehicle exit. The driver handed Hunnicutt a rolled marijuana cigar as she was exiting the car. The passenger was searched, and nothing was found on his person. Hunnicutt searched the vehicle and found a green metal can with a screw on lid. Inside the container, there were several grams of marijuana. The driver was charged with possession of marijuana less than one ounce, failure to maintain lane and brake light requirements. The passenger was charged with possession of marijuana less than one ounce. Both occupants were released on citations.
May 8
Lt. Lovick was advised by dispatch of a fight between two male subjects at a local business, and one offender was still on the scene of the fight. Lovick arrived at the location and made contact with one of the offenders. The male advised the lieutenant he had got in a fight with his brother and his brother got in his face about a stolen handgun, so they started fighting. Lovick could see that the offender has some hair missing from his scalp. As Lovick continued questioning the offender, deputies made contact with the other offender (his brother) at their residence and observed he had a swollen eye from the event. Deputy Walker transported one offender and Lovick transported the other offender to the Jones County Sheriff’s Office. When Lovick did a pat down search of the offender he had in custody, a small baggie of green leafy substance believed to be marijuana was found. Lovick acquired warrants for the two offenders for simple battery (under family violence) and one of the offenders was issued a citation for possession of marijuana less than one ounce.
May 9
Officer Pointer was patrolling the area of GA 11 when he checked a passing vehicle for valid registration and insurance status. In doing so, Pointer discovered that the tag on the vehicle came back to a totally differentvehicle. At this time, Pointer conducted a traffic stop. When the officer made contact with the driver, the driver advised that he just purchased the vehicle, and the tag came off an old car of his. The officer had dispatch check the driver’s information and it came back to show the driver’s license was currently suspended. The driver was asked to step out of the vehicle and placed in handcuffs. When the officer did a search of the driver, he found a black pouch with several baggies suspected to be narcotics in his pocket. The offender advised Pointer he had Ecstasy he had just purchased. There was also a clear baggy of suspected marijuana and several empty bags consistent with drug usage. The driver was transported to the Jones County LEC. Pointer contacted a Magistrate Judge for a warrant for possession of a schedule II drug. The officer also printed citations for possession less than one ounce for the marijuana, unregistered vehicle, affixing tag to misrepresent and suspended license. All tickets were labeled with a Superior Court sticker over the court date. The citations as well as serving the warrant for the offender were issued, and then he was turned over to the jail staff for processing.
May 10
Lt. Hunnicutt was patrolling the area of the Crossing when he saw a vehicle stopped at a red light and noticed the third brake light was out. The lieutenant conducted a traffic stop at this time. When he approached the driver, Hunnicutt could smell a strong odor of green marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The driver was asked to exit the vehicle as Hunnicutt conducted a search of the vehicle. In the passenger seat, Hunnicutt found a clear plastic baggie about the size of a golf ball that was suspected marijuana. The driver was issued a citation for the break light and a citation for possession of marijuana less than one ounce and released on the citations at the scene.
May 12
Deputy Kile was patrolling Chapman Road when his department issued license plate reader (LPR) alerted to a vehicle with an expired tag. Kile conducted a traffic stop at this time and the driver’s information came back to show that he had no valid insurance and suspended license. The offender was transported to the Jones County LEC and turned over to staff for processing.
Deputy Kile was traveling west on GA HWY 22 when he observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. Kile activated his Raptor Radar Unit, and it showed the vehicle traveling at 76 MPH. At this time, Kile conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The deputy made contact with the driver and a passenger and requested their driver’s license. When the passenger’s information was checked, Kile found there was a warrant out of Baldwin County for the male. Dispatch confirmed the warrant, and the male occupant was placed under arrest. The driver was cited for speeding 76 MPH in a 55- MPH zone and released on her citation. The passenger was transported to the Jones/Baldwin County Line and turned over to a Baldwin County deputy.
May 13
Corp. Carr was on routine patrol on the Gray Bypass when he noticed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. Using his in-car radar, it indicated the vehicle was traveling 75MPH in a 60- MPH speed zone. At this time, Carr activated his blue lights and conducted a traffic stop. Carr made contact with the driver and asked for his driver’s license. The driver advised he did not have a license but provided Carr with a Guatemala ID card. The driver was placed under arrest and a local wrecker service towed the vehicle. The offender was transported to the Jones County LEC where he was cited for speeding and driving while unlicensed, then turned over to jail staff for booking.
Deputy Sullivan was on Hwy. 18 West when his LPR Plate Hunter alerted to a vehicle with suspended registration and no valid insurance. Sullivan conducted a traffic stop at this time. The deputy made contact with the driver and explained the reason for the stop was no insurance. The female driver advised Sullivan she is supposed to have insurance, that she pays a friend to be on his policy and he is supposed to keep up her insurance. The driver supplied Sullivan with an insurance card that expired March 2022. At this time, the driver was placed under arrest and the vehicle was towed by a local wrecker service. The offender was transported to the Jones County LEC where she was given citations for no insurance and suspended registration.
