The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department Sept. 4-9, 2025.
Sept. 4
Interference with Government Property
Dep. Watkins was working security at the courthouse when the Judge ordered a male subject in the court room to sit up or wait outside until the hearing, he was a witness to presumed. The male subject had been previously given warnings by the Judge and bailiff to sit up while in the court room.
The male subject continued to defy the courts orders. After the last time the Judge said something to the male subject, he stormed out of the courtroom cursing and talking loudly. Shortly after the male exited the courtroom, his girlfriend also stormed out and began to raise her voice and curse. Since both the male and female subject left the courtroom in a disruptive manner, the Judge instructed Watkins to bring them both back to the courtroom. At first, both refused to return but reluctantly returned being escorted back by the deputy and the bailiff. Both the male and female subject continued to be disorderly and disruptive. At that time, the Judge found them both to be in direct contempt and sentenced both subjects to 24 hours in the Jones County Jail.
Watkins attempted to put the male subject in handcuffs, but the male subject resisted. Watkins had help by the court staff in getting the male handcuffed.
The male continued to resist and was disorderly at times while he was being taken to a holding cell inside the courthouse. While inside the holding cell, the male subject was able to get his handcuffs from behind his back to his front. The male subject was being so disruptive that he began to damage a male urinal inside the holding cell. This damage caused the pipes to leak severely all over the floor of the cell. The male continued to be irate and also damaged the glass window on the holding cell door. The male subject was removed from the holding cell and transported to the Jones County LEC by Sgt.
Sullivan. Warrants were obtained on the male subject for two counts of interference with government property.
Sept. 8
Suspended license
Sgt. Walker was on patrol on Highway 49 when he observed a vehicle traveling 70 MPH in a 55-MPH speed zone. At that time, Walker conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. Once Walker made contact with the male driver, the male advised Walker that he was trying to get home and did not realize his speed. Walker discovered that the male subject’s license was suspended and the registration on the vehicle was expired. Walkerthenplacedthe male subject under arrest and transported him to the Jones County LEC where he was given a citation for driving while license suspended and a warning for speeding and registration.
Sept. 9
Arson and obstruction of law enforcement
Dep. Dominguez was dispatched to a local residence in reference to a structure fire. Upon his arrival, the home was fully engulfed. Dominguez asked several people in the area if anyone was inside, and they advised the deputy that they were not sure. As the deputy was making his way to the home, he noticed a female subject between some trees next door. The female stated that she was sorry, that she lit a candle. Dominguez asked the female if her kids or husband were inside, and she advised that the kids were in school, and her husband was not there.
Dominguez advised the female subject not to leave or go anywhere, to wait at the corner of the driveway. The female advised the deputy that she was not going anywhere, and she would wait.
As the deputy turned and walked away, he heard bystanders yell out to him that the female was leaving the scene.
Dominguez turned around and saw the female subject across the street on a trail in the wood line headed towards the railroad tracks. The deputy called out to the female to stop. The female turned around and hesitated to come out of the woods. Dominguez advised her again to come out and the female finally complied. Dominguez then had the female subject sit in his patrol car while he went back to working the scene. The deputy then blocked other bystanders from the scene and created a police line with yellow crime scene tape. The deputy then asked some family members that were on scene if they knew where the kids were and where the husband was. They advised Dominguez that the kids were at school and the husband may be at his cousin’s house just down the road. Dominguez requested an investigator on scene and transmitted the information he gathered over his radio. Deputy Elliot and Lt. Carr arrived on scene. Another deputy actually went to the children’s school to verify they were there, and they were. The husband was not located at the time. As Dominguez continued speaking to family members, he was told that the female had confessed to setting the house on fire to one family member. Dominguez asked the family member if they could clarify what he seen and heard. The family member advised the deputy that they went over to the house and saw it on fire. Then the family member advised they saw the female subject breaking the windows of the home with an object. The family member stated they asked the female if she set the house on fire, and she responded “yup, I’m crazy right?” Lt.
Carr then mirandized the female, obtained a confession and arrested her.
