The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department May 30 – June 11, 2024.
May 30
Obstruction of officers
Deputy Brown was dispatched to the area of Dawn Court and Olivia Circle in reference to a suspicious person that was parked in the middle of the road with no lights on the vehicle. As the deputy was pulling up on Dawn Court, he observed the driver of the vehicle holding a cell phone in his hands and looking down. The vehicle was turned off. Brown activated his lights and siren to get the male’s attention and advised dispatch he would be out of his vehicle. Brown made contact with the male driver and asked him why he was stopped at the stop sign for so long with the vehicle turned off. The male told the deputy that “it is not illegal to sit at a stop sign.” The deputy then asked the male for his license, and the male advised he did not have it on him at the time. The male subject became agitated, and his heart rate seemed to be getting faster along with his breathing. His body was trembling as what looked like muscle jerks. Brown asked the male if he had any weapons in the vehicle, and the male advised he only had throwing knives. The deputy looked inside the vehicle and saw the throwing knives in a case. Brown asked the driver to step out of the vehicle and the male started arguing immediately about the reason for the stop. Brown noticed that the male’s body tremors were getting worse and at that time he called for another unit to come to his location. Brown asked the male if he would do some field sobriety test and the male agreed. The deputy began the test, and the male had a very hard time following the test. The male would get very aggravated with the deputy during the test.
Brown noted that he didn’t smell the odor of alcohol and due to his training and experience, suspected drugs to be involved.
Sgt. Johnson arrived on scene to assist. Brown continued with the sobriety test and the male failed to follow instructions, so at that time, Brown advised the male he was being placed under arrest for DUI drugs. As the deputy was placing the male in handcuffs, the male started resisting. Brown gave verbal commands for the male to stop fighting but it continued to get worse. At that time, Deputy Allen had also arrived on scene to assist with the stop. Brown, Johnson and Allen took the male subject to the ground and told him multiple times to stop fighting. Due to the resistance, all three deputies had minor cuts and injuries to them. The male was still resisting the officers and Sgt. Johnson advised the male he was going to tase him if he didn’t calm down. The male subject finally said “ok, I stop.” The male kept his arms tight and would not allow his hands to come together as Deputy Allen tried to cuff him.
Brown had the male restrained and Deputy Allen was finally able to get cuffs on the male. As the officers were getting the male up off the ground, the subject relaxed to the point it was hard to get him up. Sgt. Johnson was finally able to get the male to the patrol car, however the male started resisting getting in the vehicle. Johnson was finally able to control the male enough to place him in the patrol car. Deputy Allen and Deputy Brown were doing inventory of the vehicle when they heard some commotion. The male subject started banging his head against the window in the patrol car. Sgt.
Johnson opened the door and reached in to attempt to buckle the male subject and the male began kicking Johnson. Brown reached in the vehicle and restrained the male enough to make him quit kicking Johnson. The male was then placed in a Hobble to keep from kicking anymore. Brown contacted dispatch and advised them he was on his way with the male subject to the Jones County LEC. On the way to the LEC, the male was very verbal, and he was confused about where the deputy was taking him. Once inside the LEC, the male was read his Implied Consent and asked for a chemical test of his blood. The male refused the test. Brown then took out a search warrant for the blood draw. Once the warrant was signed, Brown took it back to the jail and let the male know he had obtained a warrant for blood draw.
The male subject asked to see the warrant and he advised Brown that that was “not good enough.”
The male subject was still refusing the blood draw. At that time, Brown charged the male with three counts of Felony Obstructing or Hindering Law Enforcement Officers, one count of Obstructing or Hinder Law Enforcement Officer for the DUI search warrant refusal, one citation for not having his driver’s license on him at the time of the stop, one citation for holding a cell phone or wireless communication device in his hands, one citation for DUI any combo and one citation for DUI refusal.
June 3
Forgot it was in the car
Sgt. Carr was monitoring traffic on GA Hwy. 49 when he observed a vehicle with the window tint so dark, he could not see the driver. Carr pulled out behind the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Carr made contact with the female driver and advised her the reason for the stop. The female advised the sergeant that the vehicle belongs to her, but it is registered in her dad’s name. Carr checked the tint on the windows with his tint meter.
While speaking to the female driver, Carr detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and requested dispatch send another unit to the scene.
Carr had the female exit the vehicle and cleared her of any weapons. The Sergeant asked the female about the odor, and she stated there was none inside the vehicle, however she had smoked earlier that day. Deputy Elliott arrived on scene and stood by with the female while Carr did a vehicle search.
Inside the center console, Carr located a Ziploc bag containing marijuana. Carr showed the bag to the female, and she advised “she forgot that was inside the car.” Dispatch then alerted Carr that the female had a suspended driver’s license due to a super speeder ticket. At that time, the sergeant secured the female in handcuffs and transported her to the Jones County LEC. Upon arrival at the LEC, the female was issued citations for window tint violation, driving while license suspended, no insurance and possession of marijuana less than one ounce, then turned over to jail staff for booking.
June 11
Wrong side of the road
Lt. Hunnicutt was on patrol when he ran a GA tag number to check for valid registration. The GCC system came back to show that the registered owner of the vehicle had a suspended license and suspended registration. As the driver of the vehicle was pulling out of a local business, the driver pulled into the oncoming lane of traffic going the wrong way and then came to a stop.
Hunnicutt activated his blue lights and siren and instructed the driver to pull into a nearby parking lot. At that time, Hunnicutt made contact with the male driver and realized that the male was the registered owner of the vehicle. Hunnicutt asked the male for his driver’s license and the male became very argumentative about the stop. The lieutenant advised the driver that he was being stopped because of his suspended license, and he was driving on the wrong side of the roadway. The driver continued to argue with Hunnicutt and was eventually placed in handcuffs.
Hunnicutt advised the driver he was being placed under arrest for driving while license suspended, suspended registration and driving on the wrong side of the road. Officer Joiner arrived on scene and transported the male subject to the Jones County LEC where he was given citations.
