The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department June 24, 2026
June 24
More than an ounce
Dep. Steib was patrolling the area of Highway 49 southbound when he observed a vehicle sitting at a stop sign with no headlights on. The vehicle turned onto Highway 49 and the deputy also noticed the vehicle had no taillights on. Steib turned around, caught up to the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop.
As the deputy was approaching the vehicle, he noticed the driver’s window was rolled up. Steib tapped on the window and requested multiple times for the female driver to let her window down. After several requests, the female driver finally complied, and the deputy was able to identify her. Steib noticed as soon as the window was let down the odor of marijuana and smoke was coming from inside the vehicle.
The deputy advised the female driver the reason she was stopped and requested her driver’s license.
Steib requested another deputy due to the odor of marijuana and to be on scene when he conducted a search of the vehicle. The deputy instructed the female driver to exit the vehicle. Initially, the female refused to comply and asked why she needed to get out of the vehicle. Steib explained why she had to exit the vehicle and after several commands, the female finally complied. Corp. Ribeiro arrived on scene to assist. Prior to the vehicle search, the female was instructed to stand in front of Dep. Steib’s patrol vehicle, and she refused to comply. At that point, Corp. Ribeiro and Dep. Steib attempted to detain the female by placing her in handcuffs. During the detention, the female tensed her body and resisted being cuffed. After the cuffs were placed on the female driver, she stated that she was sorry, then managed to pull one of her hands free from the handcuffs. Another deputy was requested to the scene to assist. Once the additional unit arrived, Steib proceeded with the probable cause search of the vehicle. During the search, the deputy located a bag containing suspected marijuana underneath the driver’s seat and a Ziploc bag containing several handrolled marijuana cigarettes. Based on the quantity of the suspected marijuana located inside the vehicle, the female was placed under arrest for possession of marijuana more than one ounce and transported to the Jones County Jail.
