The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department Sept. 21-26, 2026
Sept. 21
Intent to deceive
Officer Tserpelis was patrolling the area of Gray Hwy. near the Gray Bypass when she ran a routine tag check on a vehicle. The officer ran the tag number through the GCIC system, and it came back to show the registration was suspended and expired, the vehicle had no valid insurance, and the registered owner had a warrant out of Canton PD for failure to appear for suspended license and no insurance with a 50-mile pickup radius. The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. When Officer Tserpelis approached the vehicle, she noticed that the license plate had a May 2026 decal, and that tag number was registered to a different vehicle.
Tserpelis made contact with the male driver and asked for his license and proof of insurance. The male driver gave the officer a North Carolina license and advised her that he would have to check his phone for the insurance. The officer asked the male driver where he got the decal and he stated he did not remember. The male driver then asked the officer if he could try to obtain insurance on the vehicle.
Tserpelis asked the male driver to exit the vehicle and advised him that he already had a warrant for failure to appear for no insurance and suspended license. The officer also told him the vehicle would have to be towed. Officer Josey arrived on scene and the male driver requested to see if he could obtain insurance on the vehicle so it would not be towed, and Josey agreed to let him. Officer Tserpelis returned to her patrol vehicle to run the North Carolina driver’s license through GCIC and issue citations while Officer Josey stood by. A check of the male’s driver’s license came back to show that his GA license had been transferred to North Carolina, and that showed the male’s license suspended. Officer Josey detained the male driver and called for the next wrecker service to tow the vehicle. The male subject was transported to the Jones County LEC and turned over to jail staff.
Officer Tserpelis issued citations for no insurance, operating a vehicle with suspended registration, expired registration, driving while license suspended and affixing license plate with intent to deceive.
Sept. 25
Possession of narcotics
Dep. Shubert and Dep. Duong were on patrol when they observed a vehicle with damage to the front end, pull over in front of their patrol vehicle and pulled over to the side of the road at Hwy. 44 and the Gray Bypass. The male driver got out of the vehicle and fell into a ditch.
The male driver got up to a seated position facing Dep. Shubert and Dep. Duong. The deputies reported that the male driver looked at them as if he was confused. Shubert initiated his blue lights and crossed the road to assist the male driver.
When the deputies made contact with the male, he began telling them that another vehicle hit his while entering the roundabout. The male subject was not speaking in a fully coherent manner. Dep. Shubert asked the male driver if he had any medical issues and the male stated only a “old knee issue.” At that time, another male driver pulled over to the side of the road in the location.
The male was identified and told the deputies that while he was driving on the roundabout, the male subject that was stopped entered the roundabout and struck his towed trailer he was pulling. The damage to both vehicles corroborated that story. The deputies got the male’s information and let him leave the scene. The male driver that was stopped began to stumble and use his car for support. The male then came close to Dep. Shubert and the deputy clearly smelt the odor of alcohol and noticed the driver’s bloodshot eyes. Based on all the circumstances, Shubert believed the male driver was under the influence of intoxicating substances. Shubert asked the male driver if he had drunk any alcoholic beverages, and the male stated, “no.” When Shubert asked the male driver if he was on any medications, the male stated he was currently taking hydrocodone three times a day and did take them that day. The deputy asked the male driver if he would be willing to consent to doing a field sobriety exercise and the male agreed to do so but advised the deputy, he had prior knee issues and vision issues. Shubert asked the male driver if he would consent to the breathalyzer test and the male gave consent to do it. Dep. Coley arrived on scene and administered the breathalyzer. The male blew a 0.083. The male driver stated he had drunk mouth wash. Dep. Coley asked the male driver if he would consent to a blood draw and the male agreed. The male driver was placed under arrest at that time. While conducting a search of the male driver, the deputies found a bottle of over-the-counter nighttime sleep aids. When they opened the bottle, multiple types of pills were found. The male advised the deputies the pills were the sleep aids, hydrocodone and medication for his anxiety. The male was transported to the Jones County Sheriff’s Office and the nurse was called in to do the blood draw. Shubert secured warrants for the male driver for possession of schedule two narcotics (felony) and for pills not in original container (misdemeanor).
