The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department June 22-28, 2023.
June 30
He got away
Deputy Sullivan was driving southbound on Hwy. 49 when he had to slow down due to a vehicle pulling out in front of him. At that time, Sullivan initiated a traffic stop for failure to yield. When the vehicle came to a stop, the male driver got out of the vehicle, looked at Sullivan and began to run on foot. The deputy notified dispatch that he would be pursuing a subject on foot. Corporal Sullivan arrived on scene and also began to pursue the male subject on foot.
The subject fled down Pecan Dr. and then into the woods. Deputy Sullivan and Corp. Sullivan then returned to the vehicle to secure it. Inside the vehicle, they found four cell phones and a used glass pipe with empty twisted cellophane.
The phones and pipe were secured as evidence. Dep. Sullivan also found a Social Security card with a female’s name on it. Later the deputy discovered that the name on the Social Security card was the person that had rented the vehicle the male subject that fled was driving, and that it was known that the male was dating the female that rented the vehicle.
Corp. Sullivan stated the male subject was known to run from law enforcement. Deputy Sullivan spoke to the female that rented the vehicle and she confirmed the male subject was driving the car she rented. When asked about the pipe that was found inside the vehicle, the female stated it would be there due to the male subject doing meth and he would have been in that area due to his baby momma living there. Deputy Sullivan sought and secured warrants for the male subject for failure to yield, obstruction, misdemeanor fleeing or eluding Law Enforcement and possession of drug related objects.
Fight or Flight?
Sgt. Walker was monitoring traffic on Hwy. 49 when he ran a license plate to check for valid registration and insurance.
Walker discovered that the registered owner of the vehicle was wanted out of Bibb County for a hit and run. Walker conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and arrested the registered owner for the warrant. The Sgt. allowed the driver to call for a relative to pick up her car to prevent it from being towed and having a tow bill. Two male subjects arrived on scene to pick up the vehicle. Walker asked the male subject that was going to drive the vehicle for his ID to make sure that his license was valid. Walker found out that the male subject was also wanted. At that time, the male began to walk backwards and made an attempt to elude arrest. During a brief struggle with the male and the Sgt. there was damage done to the original offender’s vehicle. Walker was able to secure the male in handcuffs after the struggle. The other male that arrived on scene was released without incident.
The first male was charged with misdemeanor obstruction, suspended license, no insurance on the vehicle that he came up to the scene in, and for his warrants.
Both vehicles ended up being towed from the scene.
July 1
Possibly armed and dangerous
Deputy Marcum was contacted via car radio by Sgt. Walker to inform him of a vehicle that showed the registered owner was wanted and had a suspended license.
Marcum located the vehicle in the parking lot of a local business. The deputy waited until the subject came out of the business and got in his vehicle and head north on Hwy.
49. Marcum followed the subject but did not observe any traffic violations. Marcum did find out that the male’s warrant indicated he was likely armed and dangerous and was known to abuse dangerous drugs. Based on the information, Marcum made a pre-textual traffic stop on the male. Marcum made a passenger side approach to the vehicle so he would have a better line of sight to the driver’s hands.
The male put his right hand behind the front passenger seat for a brief moment. Due to the information Marcum had on the subject, he took a step back at that time to make himself a smaller target in case the subject had a gun. Sgt.
Walker arrived on scene at that time to assist and made a driver’s side approach on the subject. The subject was ordered to exit the vehicle and was detained at that time. Dispatch confirmed the warrant out of Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, however they declined to pick the male up. The male was arrested at that time for driving on a suspended license and it was found that he had eight failures to appear dating back to 1991. The subject was transported to the Jones County LEC and released to booking staff.
July 2
Active warrant
Deputy Dennis was on stationary patrol when he was alerted by a Flock camera that a vehicle bearing a GA tag had an expired registration. A few moments later, the vehicle passed by Dennis. The deputy conducted a search of the tag through the GCIC/NCIC database, and it verified the expired registration on the vehicle and that the registered owner had an active warrant for his arrest out of Bibb County for failure to appear.
At that time, Dennis conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. Dispatch confirmed the active warrant.
Dennis placed the male subject in handcuffs and secured him in his patrol vehicle after the warrant was confirmed. Dennis attempted to meet Bibb County law enforcement but was later told they were not able to meet him at that time so he transported the subject to the Jones County LEC where he was turned over to jail staff for processing.
