The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department July 18-22, 2025.
July 26
Scam Alert – be aware
Dep. Dennis was dispatched to the lobby of the Jones County Sheriff’s Office in reference to a report of fraud. Dennis made contact with the complainants, and they advised the deputy they had been scammed out of $3,299.00. The complainant advised that she received a text message stating it was the fraud department of their local bank and the text stated someone was trying to withdraw $3,550.00 from her account.
The complainant responded to the text by stating that was a fraudulent charge and she was advised by text that someone from her bank would be calling. A short time later, the complainant received a phone call from a male subject.
The male caller advised the complainant that to stop the fraudulent charges from going through, she would need to use an “Apple Pay” account to move the funds and then the charges could be stopped and prevent her from losing the money. The female complainant advised the caller that she did not have an “Apple Pay” account and the male caller advised her he would stay on the line and assist her in opening an account. The female opened the account and made three different deposits totaling $3,299.00. The female also advised the deputy that while she was on the phone with the male subject, her bank was sending her text messages about the charges that just occurred and she approved them. The male caller advised the complainant once the transactions were complete, not to access her account for 24 hours and she would have a new debit card in a few days. It was at that time, after the call ended, the female complainant realized she was being scammed. The complainant tried to call the male subject back from the number he called from, and a female answered and stated he was out of the office. The complainant then called the fraud department at her bank, and she was advised there was nothing that could be done since she approved the charges when they contacted her. The bank advised the complainant to file a report on the incident. Photographs and text messages were provided to Dep. Dennis and will be forwarded to the Jones County Sheriff’s Office IT dept.
July 26
DUI
Officer Pointer was ending his shift when he observed a vehicle that could not maintain its lane of travel and was driving over the white and yellow line several times. When the vehicle came to the intersection of Overland Way and Lite N Tie Road, the driver turned on their right blinker, however, the vehicle was in the left-hand turn lane. The driver seemed to correct their driving at times with abrupt corrections. Pointer was looking for a safe spot to conduct a traffic stop and also advised dispatch to send a county deputy due to being inside the county. Pointer then conducted a traffic stop just past Luke Smith Road on Lite N Tie. Pointer made contact with the female driver of the vehicle and advised her the reason for the stop. Pointer observed the female’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and asked her how much she had to drink. The female driver advised the officer she had one mixed drink at a party. While speaking to the female subject, Pointer noticed her speech was slowed and thick. The officer then asked the female to exit the vehicle and when she did so it appeared her balance was a little off, and he could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her person as she spoke.
The female only had a swimsuit on, so Pointer advised her to place more clothing on and the female complied. Upon arrival of Dep. Humphries, Pointer turned the scene over to him and stood by as the deputy continued the investigation. The female driver was given the roadside sobriety test and it showed positive for the presence of alcohol. At that time, the female was placed under arrest and charged with DUI.
Possession of firearm by felon
Officer Pointer was patrolling the area of West Clinton Street, when he was alerted by a tag reading camera of a vehicle with an expired tag. Pointer turned around and waited for the vehicle to pass by him, then fell in behind the vehicle. Pointer immediately detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle as it was driving in front of him. At that time, Pointer activated his blue lights and instructed the driver to turn on Stewart Ave.
Pointer made contact with the male driver and advised him he was stopped due to having an expired tag. The officer then asked the male driver about the odor of marijuana. The male driver advised that there was only a burnt marijuana roach in the vehicle. Pointer advised the male that he would be calling for backup and would be searching the vehicle. The male driver then handed Pointer a glass container full of marijuana. Pointer then had the male exit the vehicle and placed him under arrest. The officer placed the male driver in handcuffs and placed him in the rear seat of his patrol vehicle and activated the rear seat camera according to policy. Once a backup unit arrived, Pointer did an inventory search of the vehicle and found a Taurus 9 mm handgun under the driver’s seat of the vehicle. The weapon was retrieved, and Pointer observed that it was loaded with rounds in the magazine but none in the chamber. Pointer then had dispatch run the gun through the GCIC system to see if it was stolen. Dispatch later advised that the gun was not stolen, however, the male driver was a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Sgt. Hathaway also located a suspected pre rolled marijuana cigar in a box on the passenger side area of the vehicle. Pointer transported the male driver to the Jones County Jail, then obtained a warrant for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and issued the male driver citations for possession of marijuana and expired tag. The male was then turned over to jail staff for booking and bonding process.
July 29
No license
Dep. Brown was patrolling the area of Gray Highway, when he received a FLOCK camera alert on a vehicle with expired registration. Brown ran the vehicle information through the GCIC/NCIC system, and it came back to show the vehicle had expired registration and no insurance. At that time, the vehicle passed by Brown and he conducted a traffic stop. The deputy approached the vehicle and asked the male driver for his driver’s license. The male advised Brown that he does not speak English. Brown then got on his phone and used a translator app. Through the app translation, the deputy was able to verify with the male driver that he did not have a driver’s license in the US or Mexico. Brown had the male step out of the vehicle and read him his rights in Spanish and the male advised he understood. The male driver advised the deputy that his uncle owned the car. Dep. Brown had dispatch call the registered owner and the registered owner stated that they are not related to the male driver and that they sold the car about a month ago, but the driver was not his nephew. Brown placed the male driver in handcuffs, and transported to the Jones County LEC where he was charged with driving without a driver’s license, no insurance and expired registration.
