The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department Feb. 12-23, 2023.
Feb. 12
Officer Pointer was patrolling the area of GA 11 when he checked the speed on a vehicle.
The in-car Raptor radar unit alerted the officer the vehicle was traveling at 78 mph. At that time, Pointer turned around and pursued the vehicle. When Pointer made contact with the male driver, the officer immediately smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The officer asked the driver if there was any marijuana in the vehicle and the male advised that he had a half ounce in the car. The driver as well as a female passenger was asked to exit the vehicle at that time and Pointer asked for a backup unit to assist. Once backup arrived, Pointer located a clear baggy with a quantity of marijuana inside the vehicle.
Pointer asked the female passenger if she was aware of the marijuana, and she advised that she had no idea it was in the vehicle. The driver advised the officer it was his and it did not belong to the passenger.
The driver was arrested and transported to the Jones County LEC where he was cited for speeding and possession of marijuana less than one ounce, then turned over to jail staff for booking and released on his citations.
Feb. 15
Sgt. Walker was monitoring traffic on Hwy. 57 when he heard a high pitch alert coming from his in-car radar unit.
Walker then noticed a vehicle accelerating passing several cars headed towards Twiggs County.
The radar unit in Walker’s patrol car showed the vehicle was traveling 70 mph in a 55-mph speed zone. Walker then started pursuit and noticed the vehicle start to accelerate and pass several other vehicles. Walker was driving with his lights and sirens on at speeds around 130 mph just to catch up with the vehicle in question. With the driver of the vehicle accelerating still, it was evident at that time the subject was trying to elude Sgt. Walker, however his efforts failed. The driver was finally stopped inside the Twiggs County line. Walker called for a backup unit and began to approach the vehicle and driver. The driver was extremely confrontational and initially refused to roll his window down when asked by Walker.
The driver finally rolled his window down and gave the sergeant his identification card but continued tobeveryconfrontational. Walker began to do an accuracy check on the vehicle speed and was attempting to print the citations when he saw the driver’s side door on the subject’s vehicle open up. Sgt. Walker actually stopped what he was doing because he did not feel safe by the subject’s actions. The offender displaced his anger toward Walker verbally making the sergeant feel he was unpredictable and unstable. Walker advised the male subject to shut his door several times, but the subject refused. Walker then told the offender if he would shut the car door, he would be issued his citations and be on his way, however the subject refused. The driver then began to walk away from Walker and was not complying with the commands he was being given, then the male subject got on the ground on his own free will. The driver was arrested for obstructions and issued a citation for speeding. Walker did a wrecker inventory of the vehicle and at that time he found a 9mm handgun in the middle console. The male was transported to the Jones County LEC.
Feb 20
Deputy Dennis was dispatched to a residence due to an ongoing complaint. While meeting with the complainant, the suspected offender arrived on scene. When the subject saw the officer, he attempted to turn around and began driving on the wrong side of the road. The subject then stopped and pulled over. Lt.
Ransom arrived on scene to assist.
Dennis and Ransom made contact with the subject and had him exit the vehicle. When the male subject opened the door of the vehicle, a can of Four Loco fell out. The driver was asked about the alcoholic beverage, and he advised Dennis and Ransom he had not had anything to drink for a while. Lt. Ransom then conducted a field sobriety test on the male and the results indicated that the subject was impaired. A search of the vehicle revealed a quantity of methamphetamine and a worn-out prescription bottle with different pills inside. The driver refused the implied consent notice for blood to be drawn.
The driver was placed under arrest and transported to the Jones County LEC where he was charged for DUI refusal, open container violation, driving on wrong side of roadway and possession of methamphetamine.
Feb. 22
Sgt. Carr was in route to a call on Coulter Lake Road when he turned off Upper River Road and noticed a vehicle stopped halfway in the road and halfway off the road. There was a female passenger in the vehicle, but no driver Carr observed. Carr stopped and approached the female, and she gave him her name and date of birth. The female told the sergeant they ran out of gas and her boyfriend had gone to the store to get more.
Carr returned to his patrol car and ran the female’s information. The GCIC/NCIC system in Carr’s vehicle came back to show driver not found.
Carr had dispatch to run the female’s information and it also came back to show nothing found. Carr went back and told the female he knew that was not her correct name. The female subject then gave Carr her name and told the sergeant she thought there was an active warrant out of Houston County for her. Dispatch confirmed an active warrant for her arrest. Carr had the female exit the vehicle while K9 Rex performed an open-air sniff of the vehicle. K9 Rex alerted to the odor of narcotics. At that time, the female subject fell to the ground and became unresponsive. Carr had dispatch send EMS to the scene.
EMS arrived and medically cleared the female. Carr began a search of the vehicle and found a black bag in the passenger floorboard that contained the female’s name and a clear baggie containing methamphetamine and a glass pipe with a bulb. The female was then transported to the Jones County LEC where Carr secured warrants for possession of methamphetamine and giving false name and date of birth then turned her over to jail staff for booking.
Feb. 23
Officer Jones was patrolling the area of West Clinton St. and Bill Conn Parkway when he ran a GA tag number for insurance and registration verification. The registration information came back to show it had been canceled. Jones initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle at that time.
The officer made contact with the male driver and advised the reason for the stop. When Jones ran the driver’s information, it came back to show that the male subject had a warrant out of Monroe County. Dispatch advised Jones that Monroe wanted to place a hold on the subject. The offender was transported to the Jones County LEC where he was issued citations for canceled registration, suspended driver’s license and wrong class of license.
