The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department Sept. 30 – Oct. 3, 2026
Sept. 30
Failure to obey
Cap. Hunnicutt overheard Dep.
Dennis ask for assistance on a situation. Hunnicutt arrived on scene and observed a vehicle parked in a parking lot at an angle in the turning lane. Hunnicutt got out of his patrol vehicle and saw Officer Tserpelis standing next to a female that was handcuffed behind her back. The captain then saw the deputy standing next to the driver’s side door of the stopped vehicle.
Dennis advised Hunnicutt that he could smell a strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Hunnicutt asked the deputy what had taken place. Dennis advised the captain that he was directing traffic at one of the Jones County Schools and motioned for the female driver to stop and the driver failed to follow the deputy’s commands. Dennis also stated the female driver continued driving and attempted to turn in the parking lot. The deputy advised that when he made contact with the female driver, he smelled the strong odor of marijuana coming from inside of the vehicle and told the female driver to pull behind his car due to the heavy traffic. Dennis advised during the search of the vehicle, he found marijuana and a rolled marijuana cigarette. Hunnicutt then made contact with the female driver and read her Miranda Warning and asked to perform a field sobriety test. The female agreed to the test. Hunnicutt then asked the female driver when she last smoked because he could even smell the odor of marijuana on her person. The female told the captain that she smoked in the car while driving. The female then performed the standardized field sobriety test. After the test was completed, Hunnicutt believed that the female driver was under the influence of cannabis and less safe to operate a vehicle on the road. The captain placed the female driver under arrest and read her implied consent for suspects over age 21. The female was taken to a local physician’s office for the blood draw then transported to the Jones County LEC to be booked and charged with DUI drugs, DUI drugs less safe, reckless driving, possession of marijuana less than one ounce, impeding the flow of traffic and failure to obey person directing traffic.
Oct. 3
Shoplifting
Lt. Lovick was dispatched to a local business for a shoplifting complaint. When Lovick arrived on scene he met with the complainant and was told a female subject had come in the day before and rushed out of the store without paying for her items before anyone could stop her. The complainant advised Lovick that the female was back in the business and placing items in plastic check out bags. The manager and assistant manager stopped the female the second time before she had a chance to leave the store with the merchandise she placed in the bags.
The manager advised the lieutenant that he wanted the female charged for shoplifting and criminally trespassed from the business. Lovick made contact with the female offender and gave her a citation for shoplifting and advised her that her court date was mandatory for her to be present.
Lovick also advised the female that she was being criminally trespassed from the business property and she advised she understood.
