The failure of a Macon man to comply with instructions from law enforcement resulted in two five-year sentences for the charge of obstruction of an officer.
John James Staggs entered a guilty plea to the charges in Jones County Superior Court Jan. 5. The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred May 30, 2024.
Staggs was sentenced to five years each for the two counts. The counts were allowed to run concurrently for a total of five years. The sentence may be served on probation with credit for time served from May 30 to Aug. 12, 2024.
A report of Staggs’ arrest by Jones County Sheriff’s Deputy David Brown stated he was dispatched to Dawn Court and Olivia Circle May 30, 2024 in reference to a suspicious vehicle parked in the middle of the road with no lights on.
Brown said, as he turned onto Dawn Court from Joycliff Road, he noticed the truck was not running, and the driver was holding a phone. He said everything on the truck was valid, and he approached the vehicle.
The driver did not have his license and appeared to get agitated when questioned. Brown said he asked about weapons, and the driver told him about throwing knives in the cab that were in a case. The deputy said he asked the driver, later identified as Staggs, to get out, and he attempted to perform a sobriety test. Brown said Staggs began arguing and started having body tremors.
Two other deputies arrived on scene to assist as the driver became more uncooperative. The attempt to place handcuffs of Staggs caused minor injuries to all three deputies.
Brown said, with the threat of a taser, the driver was eventually handcuffed, but he remained uncooperative. An attempt to draw blood after Staggs was taken to the Jones County Law Enforcement Center was also unsuccessful.
A warrant was secured for Staggs’ arrest, and he was charged with three counts of felony obstructing or hindering law enforcement officers and DUI search warrant refusal.
