The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department Jan. 27 – Feb. 2, 2023.
Jan. 27
Deputy Harden was dispatched to meet with a complainant in reference to a stolen car tag. The complainant advised Harden that her tag and tag cover had been removed from her vehicle sometime in the last few weeks and had just noticed the tag was gone. The complainant advised she had no idea actually how long it had been gone. Harden put the tag in the CGIC data base as stolen and returned to service.
Jan. 28
Deputy Sullivan was observing traffic in the area of Hwy. 49 when he ran a license plate on a vehicle to check for insurance and registration. The license plate information came back to show that the registered owner of the vehicle had a suspended license. Sullivan initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. Sullivan made contact with the driver and at that time, he asked the driver if there was any marijuana in the vehicle due to the smell coming from inside the vehicle. The driver advised the deputy he had a marijuana roach in his pocket.
Deputy Joiner and Deputy Caldwell arrived on scene to assist. Sullivan then conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle due to the odor of the marijuana. During the search, the deputy found two baggies of marijuana in the driver’s side door of the vehicle. Sullivan disposed of the contraband on the roadside. The driver was then taken to the Jones County LEC where he was issued a citation for driving with a suspended license and turned over to jail staff for booking.
Sgt. Walker was monitoring traffic on Shurling Drive when he observed a vehicle pass by with no headlights on. The vehicle’s park lights were on, but no taillights were on. Walker conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle at that time. When Walker made contact with the driver, he noticed the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, and the driver’s eyes were bloodshot. The driver advised Walker that he had smoked a “blunt” about 30 minutes prior to the stop. Walker told the male that “sometimes impaired drivers forget simple tasks such as turning the headlights on.” While Walker continued to speak to the driver, he noticed the vehicle was rolling and immediately asked the driver if he realized something was happening and the driver replied “no.” Walker told him that the vehicle was rolling, and the driver advised he did not notice it. Walker had to tell the male subject to stop the vehicle. The driver’s ability to operate the vehicle was obviously in question at this point so Walker asked the male if he would take a field sobriety test and the male agreed. Based on the outcome of the sobriety test, the driver’s admission to smoking marijuana, watery and bloodshot eyes and not having headlights on after dark, the driver was arrested for DUI (drugs). The male was transported to the Jones County LEC where he was issued citations for headlight requirements and DUI less safe (drugs) then turned over to jail staff for processing.
Jan. 31
Deputy Brown was sitting stationary on the Gray Bypass when he observed a vehicle traveling at a very slow rate of speed. Brown locked his radar on the vehicle and found the driver was traveling 37 MPH in a 60-MPH speed zone.
Brown also observed the vehicle straddling the center line.
Brown suspected the driver may be DUI. Brown conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and when he made contact with the driver, he could smell the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The deputy asked the driver if he had been drinking and the driver replied, “no.” Brown asked the driver if he had smoked anything, and he again replied, “no” that he was just tired as he had just gotten off work. Brown asked the driver due to his driving behavior if he would be willing to take a field sobriety test. The driver advised he would take the test. During the test, the driver had a hard time walking a straight line, and he really could not figure out his left foot from his right foot on some portions of the test.
Brown again asked the driver if he had smoked anything, and the driver replied he had smoked a few minutes before he was stopped by the deputy.
Brown conducted a probable cause search due to the odor of marijuana and found a tray with a small amount of a green leafy substance and a handheld grinder. The driver was arrested for DUI and transported to the Jones County Jail.
