The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department Sept. 13-18, 2023.
Sept. 13
Jury duty scam
Capt. Allen was called to the lobby of the LEC to handle a complaint about a scam. The complainant advised Allen she had received a phone call from an individual that told her she did not show up for jury duty and the Sheriff’s Office had a warrant for her arrest. The complainant also told Allen that the person advised her to go to Target and buy three gift cards for $499.00 and call them back once she purchased the gift cards. The complainant also advised the call came from a local 478 area code. The complainant went and purchased the gift cards and called the phone number back. While she was on the phone with the person, she asked them for the Sheriff’s name, and they told her Etheridge which is not the Sheriff of Jones County. The caller advised the female complainant that he would call her back. A short while later the female received another phone call from the same male caller, and he stated the Sheriff’s name was Butch. At that time, the female became suspicious and thought it was very weird. The complainant did try to give the male caller the numbers off the cards, however when she scratched the card it messed the numbers up and she just hung up the phone and went to report the incident. Capt. Allen advised the female that if there was a warrant for her arrest, the Sheriff’s office would not call her on the phone, they would show up at her house.
Allen then advised the female this was a scam. Nothing further could be done and Allen advised her there was no way to track the phone number because they would be using a “spoof” phone number.
Sept. 14
Been looking for you
Dep. Brown was in route to a call when he observed a male subject, that he had issued a prior warrant on for fleeing, pull out in front of his vehicle. Brown called dispatch regarding his original call to advise them he would be initiating a traffic stop. Brown at that time stopped a motorcycle with the suspected male driving, then confirmed that subject was indeed the male he issued the warrant for.
Brown had the male subject exit off the motorcycle and placed him in handcuffs advising him of the active warrant. When the deputy searched the male’s pockets, he found a Ruger P95 9mm handgun. The male subject also had a backpack and when the deputy searched it, there were drug related objects found in the bag.
The subject had a canceled license plate for the motorcycle attached to his backpack with zip ties. A local wrecker service towed the motorcycle, and the male was transported to the Jones County LEC and turned over to jail staff for processing. The drug related objects and the handgun were turned over for safe keeping and a warrant was sought for possession of drug related objects.
Sept. 16
Intoxicated and speeding
Officer Farley was running stationary radar on GA 11 when he noticed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. The vehicle showed to be traveling 89 mph in a 65 mph speed zone. Farley proceeded to get behind the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. When Farley made contact with the male driver, he noticed the smell of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle and from the driver’s person.
The driver advised Farley that he was sorry for speeding, he was just on the way to take a friend home which was also a passenger in the vehicle. Officer Farley also noticed that the male driver was very nervous and shaking while he was speaking to him. Farley asked the male driver when the last time he had consumed any alcoholic beverage, and the male stated he had a beer about three hours prior to the stop. The officer also noticed that the male’s speech was very thick, and his eyes were bloodshot. Farley asked the male driver if he would consent to an alco-sensor test so it could be determined if he was safe to drive. The male agreed to the test and was instructed to exit the vehicle.
When the male was getting out of the vehicle, Farley noticed that he was very unstable on his feet and had to balance by holding on to the vehicle while he walked. Farley proceeded to do the alco-sensor test and it showed that the driver had consumed more than one beer and was too intoxicated to operate a vehicle. The male was read the Implied Consent on scene and asked if he would consent to a blood sample. The male told Farley that he would not do the blood test because of covid. At that time Farley advised the male driver he was being placed under arrest for DUI, and the male was transported to the Jones County LEC.
The driver was given an ALS form and his license was confiscated to be turned in. The male was also charged with DUI, DUI less safe and speeding.
Sept. 18
No insurance, no registration, ecstasy and smell of marijuana
Capt. Maynard was on patrol when he ran a random check on a vehicle for insurance and registration. The GCIC system came back to show the vehicle had no insurance and expired registration. At that time, Maynard conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. Maynard made contact with the female driver and when he did so he could immediately smell the odor of burnt marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The captain asked the female driver if there was anything illegal in the vehicle and she told him no and he was welcome to search the vehicle if he wanted. Maynard called Lt. Hunnicutt on the radio to meet him on the scene to assist. Once Hunnicutt arrived, Maynard had the female exit the vehicle and Hunnicutt began a search inside the vehicle. Five ecstasy pills were found in the center console of the vehicle in a clear baggy.
The female was placed under arrest and transported to the Jones County LEC. A warrant was secured for possession of schedule 1 narcotics and served to the female along with being charged for driving without valid insurance and expired registration.
