The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department June 8-15, 2023.
June 8
“I’m not driving, I’m traveling”
Deputy Sullivan was patrolling the area of Hwy. 49 and Garrison Road when he observed a truck pass with no license plate, and swerve across the centerline of the road. At that time, Sullivan initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. When Sullivan made contact with the male driver, the driver advised the deputy that he didn’t have a tag, but he had the truck for about a month now.
The male also told Sullivan that he did fail to maintain his lane, but he was running late for work.
Sullivan checked the driver’s license through dispatch and the GCIC system, and both came back to show the driver’s license was suspended. The deputy asked the driver to exit the vehicle and told him he could not drive with a suspended license. The male advised the deputy that he “was not driving” but that he “was traveling.” The driver then began to tell Sullivan that due to federal law; he did not need a license or tag to drive. Sullivan told the male that per Georgia law you must register your vehicle and you must have a driver’s license. The male subject asked the deputy to give him the definition of driving and Sullivan advised him that per Georgia Law operating a motor vehicle on the roads or highways constitutes “driving.” At that time, the male asked for the deputy’s supervisor. Sullivan called for Corp. Sullivan to respond. When Corp. Sullivan arrived on scene, the male driver told him that, “he did not need a license to drive due to Federal Law, and that Federal Law superseded any State Law.” Corp.
Sullivan advised the subject to step out of the vehicle, and he did so and was placed in handcuffs. The vehicle was turned over to a friend of the driver’s and the male subject was transported to the Jones County LEC where he was issued citations for failure to maintain lane, tag requirements, and suspended license then released on his tickets.
June 9
He knew he had a warrant
Deputy Sullivan was monitoring traffic in the area of Hwy. 22 and Jonesco Golf Course when he ran a license plate number to verify insurance. The information came back to show the vehicle had no valid insurance. At that time, Sullivan initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle.
When the deputy made contact with the driver, the male subject advised him the vehicle belonged to his sister and he would check with her about the insurance. The male called his sister on the scene, and she advised that the dealership the insurance was through had gone out of business. The male actually had an insurance card that showed a valid coverage date on it.
Sullivan ran the driver’s license through the GCIC database, and it showed the male had a warrant out of Hancock County for violation of probation. The male told Sullivan that he knew he had a warrant. Sullivan had the male exit the vehicle and placed him in handcuffs. During a search of the male, the deputy found a small bag of marijuana on his person. The male was transported to the Jones County LEC once the warrant was confirmed and issued a citation for no insurance and turned over to jail staff for booking.
June 12
Guatemala driver’s license
Deputy Astyk was on patrol when he ran a tag number on a vehicle. The information that came back showed the vehicle had no valid insurance.
Astyk conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver and other passengers. The male driver advised the deputy that it was a company vehicle, and he was surprised there was no insurance on it. The driver then handed the deputy a Guatemala passport and what appeared to be a Guatemala driver’s license. The deputy then verified what qualifies a non-US citizen for a valid US driver’s license via GA.Gov. The qualifications stated that if a non-US citizen establishes residency in GA, he or she must obtain a Georgia driver’s license within 30 days; and if a person accepts employment or engages in trade in Georgia, and enrolls his or her children in a private or public school withing ten days after the commencement of employment, he or she must obtain a GA driver’s license; and if a person has been present in the state for 30 days or more, he or she must obtain a GA driver’s license. The driver advised Astyk he had been in GA since 2006. That puts him as a resident with no valid driver’s license. The male subject was placed under arrest at that time and transported to the Jones County LEC for processing.
Mushrooms and more
Officer Pointer was patrolling the area of West Clinton St. when he ran a tag number on a vehicle to check for insurance and registration.
Pointer learned that the vehicle had a suspended registration. The officer fell in behind the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. When Pointer made contact with the male driver, he detected the odor of marijuana and alcohol coming from inside the vehicle.
In the driver’s door, the officer observed suspected marijuana, and something wrapped in a black plastic bag. The driver seemed to be lethargic and kept his head down while speaking to the officer. Pointer advised the male driver to exit the vehicle and detained him in handcuffs. Lt. Hunnicutt arrived on scene to assist Pointer, and Hunnicutt advised that he could also smell the odor of alcohol coming from the male’s person. Hunnicutt asked the driver if he would submit to a field sobriety test and the male agreed. While Hunnicutt was conducting the test, Pointer conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle. The officer found suspected marijuana in the driver’s side door, and suspected mushrooms (psilocybin) commonly known as “shrooms” in a black baggy. Also located on the driver side floorboard was a smoking pipe with suspected methamphetamine residue inside. There were two marijuana roaches found on the passenger seat of the vehicle. Once Hunnicutt completed the field sobriety test, the male was placed under arrest and secured in Pointer’s vehicle. Hunnicutt advised Pointer that the male was suspected to be under the influence of drugs and to contact the nurse to be in route to the LEC for a legal blood draw that the subject agreed to. Once at the Jones County LEC, the nurse did a blood draw and gave the test to Pointer where he entered and was granted warrants for possession of a schedule 1 drug, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of a drug related object. The male was also given citations for DUI, DUI less safe, expired tag, suspended tag, open container, cracked windshield and possession of marijuana less than one ounce.
