The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department Jan. 19-26, 2023.
Jan. 19
Deputy Harden was parked near a local business on Shurling Drive doing reports when an employee of the business started flagging him over.
The employee advised Harden there was a shoplifter inside the business. The deputy entered the business along with Deputy Sullivan that had arrived on scene and made contact with the suspect. Both Harden and Sullivan escorted the female subject to the manager’s office where she admitted to concealing items to steal. At that time, the female removed all the items she had stuffed in her pants. There were 26 packages of boys’ underwear, one can of cleaning spray and one pack of pens. Deputy Sullivan transported the female to the Jones County Jail where she was booked for shoplifting.
Jan. 21
Sgt. Carr conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that was traveling 76 MPH in a 60-MPH zone. When Carr made contact with the driver, the male subject told Carr he was on the way to the hospital because he felt as if he was having a heart attack. Carr had dispatch to send EMS to the scene. While waiting, Carr ran the driver’s information through the GCIC/ NCIC system, and it came back showing that the male subject had several warrants for his arrest. EMS arrived on scene and medically cleared the male. Carr secured the subject in handcuffs at that time. Dispatch also advised Carr that Twiggs County had placed a hold on the subject for warrants. The male was transported to the Twiggs County line and turned over to a Twiggs County Deputy. The male was also given a logged warning for speeding by Carr.
Jan. 26
Deputy Allen was dispatched off Hwy. 49 to a local business in reference to a possible burglary. Once Allen arrived, he made contact with the complainant who was also an employee.
The complainant told Allen when she pulled up to the front door of the business, she noticed the shattered glass door and then made the call to authorities. Allen entered the business to clear the remainder of the building for everyone’s safety.
When entering the business, Allen noticed behind a counter had been ransacked.
The deputy noticed several different packs of cigarettes on the ground. The owners of the business arrived to observe the damage. Allen and the owners then went to a back office and obtained video footage. According to the video footage, a male wearing all black with a hat and a hood on entered the parking lot of the business on foot. The footage then shows the male searching through the trash. The subject then approaches the door and breaks it with what appeared to be a hammer type object.
Footage shows the male quickly go behind the counter, take the trash bag from the trash can and starts grabbing cigarettes putting them in the trash bag. The male was inside the business for approximately 5 to 8 minutes before exiting the business and leaving on foot.
Allen spoke to the business owner once again and it was concluded that there were multiple packs of cigarettes, black and mild cigars and several rolling papers taken from behind the counter. The amount of the property taken and the identity of the male subject is not known at this time.
