The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department April 28 – May 1, 2023.
April 28
BUSTED: Cocaine and Marijuana Officer Josey was on patrol in the area of West Clinton St. when he ran a GA tag to check for insurance and registration. The in-car computer came back to show that the vehicle had an expired tag. Josey activated his blue lights and initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. Josey made contact with the driver and a passenger and at that time, the officer detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.
Josey called for an additional unit to the scene and had the driver and passenger exit the vehicle. While doing a pat down search of the driver, the officer located a plastic bag in his front pocket containing a quantity of cocaine. When the officer found the cocaine, the male automatically put his hands behind his back without even being asked to do so.
In the other front pocket of the male driver, Josey found $1900.00 in US currency. The subject was placed in handcuffs at that time. Officer Farley and Sgt. Johnson arrived on scene and stood by with the offender and passenger while Josey conducted a search of the vehicle. A quantity of marijuana was found inside a box in the back seat along with a blue Cookies name brand digital scale that was in the console of the vehicle. The driver was transported to the Jones County LEC. Two warrants for possession with intent to distribute were obtained for cocaine and marijuana along with a citation for expired registration.
April 29
Just going to a friend’s house
Deputy Allen was on routine patrol on Gray Hwy. when he noticed a vehicle pass by with a green 2022 registration sticker on the tag. Allen ran the tag information to check for valid registration and insurance. The tag information determined the registration was valid, however the registered owner of the vehicle driver’s license showed suspended.
Allen activated his emergency lights and siren and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. When the deputy made contact with the driver, he determined the driver to be the registered owner of the vehicle by his GA driver’s license. The male subject advised Allen that his mother handles the registration of the vehicle and the male stated he had a permit to travel to medical appointments, school and work. Allen asked the male subject where he was going at this time, and the male replied he was just on the way to a friend’s house in Gray. The male told the deputy that he had actually been staying with the friend for around a week.
While the conversation continued with the deputy and offender, Allen noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Allen asked the male about the odor and asked if there was any marijuana in the vehicle. The male told the deputy there was marijuana in the vehicle. At that time the driver handed Allen two canisters that contained a green leafy substance. Deputy Robinson arrived on scene to assist, and a search of the vehicle was conducted and cleared for any other contraband. The offender was placed under arrest and transported to the Jones County Jail where he was turned over to jail staff and released on citations for driving while license suspended and possession of marijuana less than 1 oz. and a verbal warning for the proper registration sticker.
May 1
Asleep at the gas pump
Deputy Caldwell responded to a local business in reference to a suspicious individual that was asleep at one of the gas pumps. Caldwell arrived on scene and approached the vehicle knocking on the driver side window to wake up the driver. Once the driver was awake, Caldwell made sure he was ok medically and asked for his identification.
The driver advised the deputy that he was driving to work and was sleepy and did not mean to fall asleep at the gas pump. Caldwell ran the driver’s information through the NCIC/GCIC system, and it came back to show the male had an outstanding warrant out of Bibb County. Dispatch confirmed the warrant, and the male was placed under arrest at that time. After the deputy secured the male, he noticed the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, and the subject also smelled of marijuana. Caldwell asked the driver how much marijuana was inside the vehicle, and the driver replied, “only a little bit.” Sgt. Johnson arrived on scene to assist, and a search of the driver’s vehicle was conducted. Two partially burned marijuana cigarettes were located near the steering wheel and a loaded Taurus .40 Caliber handgun was also located between the driver seat and center console containing ten rounds of ammunition. A criminal history check was run on the male, and it was learned he was a convicted felon. The male advised the deputy he did not know the handgun was inside the vehicle. The male was transported to the jail where he was issued a warrant for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and turned over to jail staff.
