The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department March 22-26, 2023.
March 22
“Nothing illegal,” he said
Inv. Hall was in the area of New Clinton Rd. when he observed a vehicle pass by him with no tag. Hall caught up to the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop.
When Hall made contact with the driver, he noticed the male subject was extremely nervous, the subjects’ hands were shaking uncontrollably, heavy breathing and Hall even noticed the male’s carotid artery in his neck pumping very hard. The driver provided Hall with his driver’s license and was able to get his insurance information via his cell phone. Deputy Caldwell then arrived on scene to assist with the stop. Hall asked the subject if there was anything illegal in the vehicle and the male stated there was nothing. Hall asked the male for consent to search the vehicle and the driver refused to let him do the search. Hall had Deputy Caldwell notify Sgt.
Carr to be in route with his K9 Rex. Hall and Caldwell noted once again how nervous the male was. Dispatch notified Hall that the vehicle’s registration had been expired for a little less than a year. Caldwell had the driver exit the vehicle and Sgt. Carr arrived with K9 Rex. An openair sniff of the vehicle was done at that time by K9 Rex, and Rex alerted to drugs in the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle revealed a glass smoking pipe device containing methamphetamine residue and a piece of cellophane was located with suspected methamphetamine inside.
The driver was then placed in handcuffs and transported to the Jones County Sheriff’s Office where he was charged with possession of methamphetamine and no tag.
March 23
Refusing it all, “take me home” Deputy Johnson was dispatched to Rock Creek Road at Gray Hwy. in reference to a vehicle in the ditch. When Johnson arrived at the scene, he made contact with EMS and Rescue, while the driver was being pulled from the trunk of the vehicle due to the vehicle stopping at a steep angle. Rescue and EMS personnel carried the driver to the ambulance due to the male not being able to walk. Once the driver was in the ambulance, a by-stander told Johnson the driver smelled of alcohol. Rescue and EMS advised the deputy that the driver appeared to be very intoxicated and smelled of alcohol. The male subject refused to be transported to the hospital to be checked out and Johnson took him to his patrol car. The deputy asked what happened and the male subject advised he was traveling north on Gray Hwy. when a vehicle got close to his bumper, and he took a turn too fast and ended up in the ditch. Johnson asked the driver if he would give consent to do a Standard Field Sobriety test and the subject refused that and any other tests and told the deputy to take him home. Johnson retrieved his Portable Breath Tester and asked the male to blow into it. The subject blew very lightly for about half a second and stopped. The deputy advised the subject to take a deep breath and to blow in the unit until he was told to stop. The subject continued to evade the test by only giving light breaths. Johnson finally stopped the test and read the male the State of Georgia Implied Consent and again the deputy asked for the breath test.
The male advised Johnson he would not submit to the test and again he would not submit to any other tests that the deputy requested. Johnson read the male his Miranda Rights. While conducting vehicle inventory, Johnson found a package of White Claw in the back seat that was sealed, another empty carton of White Claw, and a small, sealed bottle of Vodka. Located in the trunk of the vehicle was two full plastic grocery style bags containing empty cans of White Claw. The driver was transported to the Jones County LEC. When arriving at the LEC, Johnson had to help the male subject out of his patrol car and walk into the jail as he had almost fallen several times. While at the jail, Johnson asked the male for consent for blood and again the male refused. The deputy advised the subject that he would be seeking a warrant for bloodwork and the warrant was granted. The male was taken for a blood draw, given a citation for driving under the influence and turned over to jail staff.
March 24
Don’t remember who was driving
Deputy Robinson was dispatched to the area of Cumslo Road and Buck Road in reference to a one vehicle crash. While Robinson was in route to the accident, dispatch advised him that the occupants of the crashed vehicle got into another car and left the scene heading towards Gray. Robinson, at that time, noticed a vehicle passing him that matched the description of the vehicle the subjects got into. He turned around and caught up to the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Robinson made contact with the driver and two female passengers. When the deputy spoke to the driver, he noticed the odor of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle. Robinson asked them if they had just left a crash scene and the driver advised they did, and she was just trying to take the passenger’s home.
After speaking with the three occupants, it was discovered that one of the passengers in the vehicle was the driver of the crashed vehicle and the other passenger was in the vehicle with her. Both females declined EMS medical treatment and advised they were OK. While speaking to the driver of the crashed vehicle, Robinson noticed a very strong odor of alcohol coming from her person and her eyes were watery and bloodshot. The deputy asked the female subject if she would consent to a Standardized Field Sobriety Test, and she gave consent. The female also gave consent to a roadside Alcohol Sensor Test, that sample showed positive for alcohol. The female subject was read the implied consent for subjects over the age of 21 and she refused the state chemical testing for her breath.
The female was transported to the Jones County LEC, and a warrant obtained for her blood.
The blood test was drawn, and the female was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, suspended registration and no valid insurance.
A familiar smell
Deputy Allen was on patrol when he witnessed a vehicle drive past with no license plate on display. Allen activated his blue lights and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. When the deputy made contact with the female driver and her daughter, she advised Allen she had just recently bought the vehicle and had not been able to get the tag until she got paid. While speaking to the female driver, the deputy detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Allen asked the female about the smell, and she told him there was a small amount of marijuana inside the vehicle. At that time, the female opened the center console and handed Allen a baggie containing marijuana. The female and the child were asked to exit the vehicle and a search of the car was conducted with nothing else being found. The female was allowed to have someone come pick up the child and then the subject was transported to the Jones County Sheriff’s Office where she was charged with possession of marijuana less than one ounce.
