The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department May 22 – June 8, 2023.
May 23
Did I hit something?
Officer Farley was putting out business check cards when he observed a vehicle pull into the parking lot of a local business, and strike one of the 4x4 post holding an awning up. The driver of the vehicle proceeded to back up and leave the scene while Farley was sitting watching the collision happen. At that time Farley was able to get behind the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. When the officer made contact with the male driver, he asked the subject if he realized he struck the post to the building with his vehicle. The subject stated that he thought the parking lot was a drive through and he was wanting to get a soda from the soda machine.
While speaking to the male, Farley noticed a strong smell of alcohol coming from the subject and inside the vehicle. Farley asked the male how much he had to drink, and the male told the officer that he only had one Mike’s Hard Lemonade and he was just on the way to a friend’s house. Farley had the male exit the vehicle and when he did so, the subject had to steady himself by using the vehicle door while attempting to walk to the rear of the vehicle. The officer also noticed the male’s speech was extremely slurred and his eyes were bloodshot. The male told Farley that he was not drunk and said he would take an Alco sensor test. The subject advised Farley that he worked in the prison system for twelve years and he knows how the system works.
Farley then gave the male the Alco sensor test and it came back with a positive result for high levels of alcohol. Officer Farley asked for Deputy Brown to come to the location to perform a Field Sobriety Test. When Deputy Brown arrived and attempted to perform the Field Sobriety Test, the male subject stated that he couldn’t preform the test and could not do it even if he was not drinking. The male was then read the Implied Consent on scene and stated that he would submit to a blood sample. The subject was transported to the Jones County Sheriff’s Office and dispatch was informed to have the on-call nurse come do the blood sample. The male was booked on the charges of DUI, DUI less safe and striking a fixed object, then turned over to jail staff.
May 24
Asleep at the traffic light
Lt. Lovick was on patrol when dispatch advised that a motorist called in and made a complaint of a vehicle at a traffic light on West Clinton and Washburn Street that had two men inside the vehicle, and both were asleep at the red light. Lovick pulled up behind the vehicle with his emergency lights activated while the vehicle was stopped at the green light. Lovick walked up to the vehicle and observed two male subjects both asleep and neither were responding to his presence. The Lt. yelled to the driver, and he awoke startled. Lovick advised the male driver to put the car in park. The driver told Lovick that he and the passenger had been working around the Atlanta area all night and were on their way home back to Milledgeville, and they were both so tired he fell asleep at the red light and the passenger had been asleep the entire trip back. Capt. Maynard arrived on scene and advised Lovick there was a smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Lovick had the driver step out of the vehicle and the male told the Lt. the marijuana was in the center console of the vehicle. At that time, the officers had the passenger to step out of the vehicle and had dispatch run his information. Dispatch advised that the passenger had an active warrant out of Baldwin County for failure to appear. Capt.
Maynard took the passenger into his custody and transported him to the Baldwin line and turned him over to a Baldwin County deputy. The driver was given a citation for possession of marijuana and released from the traffic stop.
May 30
My cousin’s car
Lt. Hunnicutt was on routine patrol when he ran a GA tag number on a vehicle. The GCIC system came back to show that the tag belonged to a completely different vehicle. At that time Hunnicutt activated his blue lights and siren and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. As soon as the officer made contact with the female driver, he could smell the odor of green marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The driver advised Hunnicutt that the vehicle did not belong to her, it was her cousin’s car. The VIN number on the vehicle showed the car did not have insurance and had not been registered. Due to the odor of marijuana, Hunnicutt had the female subject exit the vehicle. The female told Hunnicutt that she was not smoking marijuana, but she did have some in her wallet. Hunnicutt located a clear bag containing a green leafy substance. A wrecker was called to pick up the vehicle, and the female driver was charged with possession of marijuana less than one ounce, operation of unregistered vehicle, affixing a license plate with intent to conceal, no insurance and expired tag then released on her citations.
June 8
Firearm and a few “buds”
Officer Pointer was on patrol near West Clinton Street when he ran a vehicle check on a GA tag. When the information came back, it showed the vehicle tag had expired. At that time, Pointer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. When the officer made contact with the female driver, he noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from her vehicle. The female subject advised Pointer that she had a few “buds” of marijuana. The officer requested another unit to assist with the stop. The subject also advised the officer there was a gun in the car, but it was not hers, it was her boyfriend’s.
Pointer advised the female that it would be okay as long as she was not a felon. The female then advised the officer she was a felon. Pointer had dispatch check the female’s criminal history and it came back to show she was indeed a felon. The female was placed in handcuffs at that time. Once the backup unit arrived to assist Pointer, he began a search of the vehicle and found a silver .38 Taurus Revolver in the center console, loaded with bullets and additional ammunition in a clear bag. Located in the passenger seat was a clear container of suspected marijuana.
The female was transported to the Jones County Sheriff’s office where a warrant for felony possession of a firearm was granted and also issued citations for expired tag and possession of marijuana less than one ounce then turned over to jail staff for booking.
