The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department Sept. 9-13, 2023.
Sept. 9
Flock camera alert
Dep. N. Sullivan was monitoring traffic in the area of Gray Hwy. and Joycliff Rd. when he received a flock camera alert of a vehicle that had suspended registration. Sullivan ran the license plate number through the GCIC system, and it came back to show the vehicle had suspended registration, no valid insurance and that the registered owner had a suspended driver’s license. Sullivan was able to locate the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. When the deputy and the driver stopped, the male driver got out of the vehicle and stated that he knew that he didn’t have insurance, however he was working on getting it. The male driver advised Sullivan that he did not know about his license being suspended and that he thought he had already taken care of that issue. Sullivan then placed the male subject in handcuffs and the male advised the deputy he had guns in the vehicle. Sullivan ran the serial numbers on the weapons with dispatch and they came back clear. A local wrecker service arrived on scene and the vehicle was towed away. The male driver was transported to the Jones County LEC where he was issued a citation for suspended driver’s license and a warning for no insurance and suspended registration. The male was then turned over to jail staff.
Sept. 11
He had a bad feeling
Sgt. Carr was monitoring traffic on Shurling Dr. when his LPR system alerted to a GA tag for expired registration. Carr confirmed the information through the GCIC/NCIC system, and it showed the registered owner’s license had been suspended and he had an active warrant out of Bibb County. At that time, Carr activated his blue lights and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. When Carr made contact with the male driver, the subject advised that he knew his license was suspended and “had a bad feeling about driving that day.” While speaking to the male, Carr noticed a small child in a car seat, but the car seat was not secured. The Sgt. allowed the male to call his wife to come pick up the child. Dispatch advised Carr that Bibb County confirmed the warrant. Carr stood by with the male driver to wait on Bibb County to arrive and get the subject, however after a while it was determined that Bibb County would not be able to meet Carr with the subject. Carr then secured the male in handcuffs and transported him to the Jones County LEC. Once they arrived at the LEC, the male was issued citations for driving while license suspended, expired registration, and seat belt violation for kids. The male signed his citations and was then turned over to jail staff for booking.
Sept. 13
Refused the blood draw
Dep. Caldwell was on patrol conducting traffic enforcement when he observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on Hwy. 49. Caldwell activated his Raptor RP1 radar, and it indicated the vehicle was traveling 77 mph in a 55 mph speed zone. The deputy was able to get behind the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. When Caldwell made contact with the male driver and asked for his driver’s license, the male subject advised the deputy that he did not have his license on him but gave his name and date of birth. Caldwell ran the male’s information through the GCIC/NCIC system and learned that the male had multiple license suspensions for child support, driving while suspended and driving under the influence of alcohol. At that time, Caldwell requested an additional unit to the scene and Dep. Brown arrived.
Caldwell had the male exit the vehicle to discuss his license status and while speaking to the subject, the deputy detected the strong odor of alcohol coming from his person. The deputy asked the male if he had anything to drink, and the male stated he did have some alcohol earlier that night but had not had anything to drink in hours. Caldwell asked the male if he would agree to a standardized field sobriety test and the male subject agreed. After several portions of the test, the male subject was not following the instructions correctly that were being given by the deputy and was swaying back and forth while trying to perform the test. After the male was done going through the standardized field sobriety test, Caldwell read the subject the Georgia Implied Consent for Suspects over the age of 21 and asked if the male would consent to a blood draw. The male refused the blood draw and at that time was placed in handcuffs. Deputy Brown transported the male subject to the Jones County LEC while Caldwell waited on a local wrecker service to come tow the vehicle. Once the vehicle was recovered, Caldwell obtained a signed search warrant for two vials of the subject’s blood then he went to the LEC to inform the male of the search warrant. The male subject still refused to give the blood and did not comply. The subject was then placed in a holding cell and informed that he would also be receiving a misdemeanor obstruction charge as well.
Citations were also issued for speeding, driving on a suspended license and driving under the influence of alcohol. A warrant was taken out for obstruction as well.
