The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department Feb. 25 – March 2, 2023.
Feb. 25
I ALMOST HIT A DEER Deputy Harden was dispatched to Altman Road in reference to a traffic accident.
When the deputy arrived and made contact with the driver, he noticed the driver was showing signs of impairment and had urinated on himself. Harden immediately smelled the odor of alcohol coming from the driver.
The male driver told the deputy that he was swerving to miss a deer in the roadway and had an accident. The deputy asked the driver how much he had to drink, and the male told Harden he had drank about three or four beers at a banquet that he left. At that time, Harden asked the male to do some field sobriety tests to see if he was too impaired to be driving and the male agreed to do the test. The male driver failed all the field sobriety tests. Harden placed the male under arrest for driving under the influence. Deputy Sullivan arrived on scene and transported the subject to the Jones County LEC.
WRONG PERSON
Lt. Ransom was on patrol when he observed a vehicle traveling north on GA Highway 49 at a high rate of speed.
Ransom activated his mobile radar unit, and it showed the vehicle was traveling 76 mph in a 55-mph speed zone. At that time, Ransom activated his emergency lights and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. Ransom also found that there was no valid insurance coverage on the vehicle and the registration was suspended.
When the lieutenant made contact with the female driver, she advised him that she did not have her license on her but gave her name. Ransom ran the driver’s information she gave him, and it came back to show a valid driver’s license.
Ransom also noticed the strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The driver was asked to exit the vehicle and a search was conducted. A marijuana cigarette roach was located in the center console.
Then, he observed a purse sitting in the rear floorboard and inside the purse, he located an identification card that had the picture of the female subject that was driving the vehicle; however, it showed a completely different name. There was also a marijuana bud in the bottom of the purse. Ransom ran a check of the name he found on the identification card through the GCIC system, and it showed that the female had a suspended driver’s license and multiple warrants out for her. Ransom transported the female to the Jones County LEC where she was issued citations for no insurance, suspended registration, suspended driver’s license, speeding, possession of marijuana and giving false name and date of birth.
Feb. 27
OBEY THE LAW
Officer James was dispatched to assist Officer Josey on a traffic stop. Once James arrived, Josey advised he made a traffic stop on a vehicle that failed to obey the traffic control device at W. Clinton St. and Washburn Ave. James ran the driver’s information through the GCIC/NCIC database, and it came back to show the driver’s license was suspended. At that time, the male driver was placed under arrest for driving on a suspended license. James transported the subject to the Jones County LEC where he was given citations for driving while license suspended and failure to obey traffic control device then turned over to jail staff for booking.
Feb. 28
HIDE/SEEK/FOUND Deputy Caldwell was on patrol when he observed a vehicle on Joycliff Road traveling 60 mph in a 45mph speed zone. Caldwell activated his blue lights and got behind the vehicle to conduct a traffic stop.
When the deputy spoke to the driver, the male subject told him he knew he was speeding. While speaking to the male, the deputy could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Caldwell advised the male subject to exit the car and asked him if he had any marijuana inside the vehicle. The driver told the deputy he did not have any and that his son uses his car to smoke marijuana in from time to time. Caldwell advised dispatch to send another unit to assist in a vehicle search. Deputy Brown arrived on scene and Caldwell asked the male subject again if he had any marijuana in the vehicle and again the male told him no. The deputy began searching the vehicle and found two clear plastic baggies containing a green leafy substance behind the front passenger’s seat in the pocket. Both baggies together were suspected to be over an ounce or more of marijuana. The driver was placed in handcuffs and transported to the Jones County LEC where he received a citation for speeding and a warrant for felony possession of marijuana, then turned over to jail staff.
