The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department Sept. 21-25, 2023.
Sept. 21
Driver and passenger both go to jail
Officer Astyk was patrolling the area of Gray Hwy. and the Gray Bypass when she observed a vehicle bearing a strange tag number and no state shown on the tag. Astyk attempted to check the vehicle information via the GCIC/NCIC system, and it came back with negative results. At that time, the officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle.
When Astyk made contact with the male driver and female passenger, the male refused to roll his window down no more than an inch and told the officer “it was for his safety.” Astyk requested the male’s driver’s license multiple times and the male finally provided a Colorado ID card that had his name and date of birth listed on it. The male refused to provide any vehicle insurance information, registration or proof of purchase of the vehicle at that time. The male requested a supervisor to the scene. Astyk returned to her vehicle, requested a supervisor and did a GCIC/NCIC on the male and that information came back to show the male driver was a wanted subject with violent felony warrants from multiple states and had a suspended license. A supervisor arrived on scene and the male driver lowered his window even more.
When he did so, the odor of marijuana was detected coming from inside the vehicle. The male was asked to step out of the vehicle and handcuffed. A Jones County Sheriff’s officer arrived on scene with deputy K9 Rex, and the K9 immediately confirmed and hit on the odor of marijuana. The female passenger was asked to step out of the vehicle, and she refused to properly identify herself with her real name and gave a false date of birth. With a rapid response fingerprint confirmation, the female’s correct name and date of birth was able to be determined.
The female refused to advise the officers where she lived. Due to the vehicle having no state license plate on it, Astyk was able to obtain the vehicle VIN number and confirmed the vehicle information was last registered in Nevada in 2022 to a different owner than the driver and that the vehicle had no insurance and was not registered. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and a substance believed to be marijuana was located in the center console. Both the male and the female were transported to the Jones County LEC. After both subjects were booked, the Corporal of the LEC contacted Astyk and advised her the couple were speaking to each other across the hall and making hand gestures indicating there was a possible gun. Astyk obtained a search warrant to further search the vehicle but found no weapons. Arrest warrants were obtained for the male and female.
Sept. 22
Driver slumped over at the wheel
Deputy Caldwell responded to a call regarding a suspicious vehicle that was on the roadway and partially in the woods on Garrison Road and the intersection of Hwy. 49. When Caldwell approached the vehicle, he observed the male driver asleep behind the wheel and the vehicle was still in drive. Deputy Allen arrived on scene and the two officers began to knock on the windows to wake the male and see what was going on. The driver finally woke up and opened the driver side door on the vehicle. Caldwell immediately observed a glass smoking device in plain view when the male opened the vehicle door, and the pipe contained a heavy white coating on the inside suspected to be methamphetamine. The driver exited the vehicle and was immediately placed in handcuffs due to the contraband observed in the vehicle. Caldwell obtained the male subject’s information and checked his driver’s license, and it came back to show that the male’s license had been revoked. The deputy read the male his Miranda Rights at that time. The male subject advised the deputy he was just on his way back home and that the last time he smoked methamphetamine was earlier that night and that he had taken his prescription Adderall. EMS arrived on scene to assess the male for any injuries, however the male subject refused medical treatment. Caldwell asked the male if he would be willing to take a Standardized Field Sobriety test and the male agreed.
During the test the subject had difficulty preforming the test and following the deputy’s instructions, therefore Caldwell believed the male was under the influence and not safe to be driving.
Caldwell read the male the Georgia Implied Consent for suspects aged 21 or older and asked him if he would be willing to consent to a state test of his blood. The male agreed to the blood draw. Sgt. Johnson arrived on scene and transported the male to the Jones County LEC while Caldwell stood by to await the next available wrecker to tow the vehicle. During the vehicle inventory search, Caldwell found multiple Adderall bottles and a partially consumed bottle of Evan Williams whiskey in the front passenger seat. Caldwell then went to the LEC and served the male driver with three citations: driving on a revoked license, open container and DUI for multiple substances. The male also received warrants for possession of methamphetamine and possession and use of drug related objects. The blood draw was done and placed in the GBI crime lab evidence for testing and the male was turned over to jail staff.
Sept. 23
Warrant and multiple citations issued
Deputy Morris was patrolling the area of Hwy. 49 when she received an alert via a Flock camera for a vehicle with expired registration. The Flock camera also gave a picture of the vehicle, and the license plate number on the vehicle when ran through the GCIC system showed that license plate actually belonged to a different vehicle. A while later, a vehicle matching the Flock camera information passed by the deputy and Morris pulled out behind the vehicle, activated her blue lights and conducted a traffic stop.
When Morris made contact with the male driver, she asked why the wrong license plate was attached to the vehicle.
The male advised the deputy that he had just purchased the vehicle out of South Carolina, so he put his girlfriend’s tag on the vehicle since he did not have one. When Morris asked the male for his driver’s license, he only supplied a state issued ID card. Morris asked the male if he had a driver’s license and he said he did not. The male stated his license had been suspended for child support obligations. The deputy asked the male if there were any weapons in the vehicle and the male stated “no”. The male had told Morris he had the title to the vehicle, however when Morris searched the vehicle for it, she was not able to find it. Dispatch advised Morris that the male also had a warrant out of Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and there was no insurance on the vehicle.
The driver confirmed he did not obtain insurance when he purchased the vehicle. Morris began to search the vehicle further and found a firearm in the glove compartment and marijuana.
The male was then transported to the Jones County LEC and while in route, the male stated to the deputy he “hopes the law enforcement officers are killed by a maniac. The male also made several more statements alluding to the injury of law enforcement officers. Once at the LEC, the male was issued citations for misdemeanor possession of marijuana, driving while license suspended, no insurance and use of license plate with intent to conceal. A warrant was also sought for felony possession of a firearm by convicted felon.
