The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department Jan. 21, 2024.
Jan. 21
They didn’t realize mushrooms were illegal
Sgt. Carr was working routine patrol on Gray Hwy. when he observed a vehicle following too closely to the vehicle in front of it and traveling at 65 mph. At that time, Carr activated his blue lights and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. Carr approached the vehicle and made contact with a male driver and a male passenger.
The driver began to tell Carr that there was something wrong with the steering on the vehicle and how it did not steer well. While the driver was speaking, Carr noticed the vein in the driver’s neck pulsing rapidly, and even though it was under 30 degrees outside he was sweating around his face. Carr asked the male driver about his behavior and the male advised he was nervous because he was on probation and did not want to get in any trouble.
The male passenger gave the Sgt. his identification however would not make eye contact with Carr and just kept looking forward.
Due to the behavior of the driver, Carr requested a backup unit and Officer Astyk with the Gray PD arrived on scene. Carr asked the male driver for consent to search the vehicle and the driver denied.
Carr then advised the male driver that he was going to have his partner K9 Rex to conduct a free air sniff of the vehicle. The male driver advised he understood. At that time, Carr had the driver and male passenger exit the vehicle.
The Sgt. noticed a zip lock bag on the male driver’s person that was ripped and inside the bag appeared to be a tiny amount of a crystal residue. The male advised Carr that he didn’t believe it was drugs. K9 Rex conducted the free air sniff and alerted to the odor of narcotics. Carr then advised both males that he had probable cause to search the vehicle. The male driver then told Carr there were mushrooms in the vehicle but that was all. Carr went to the trunk of the vehicle to search and found a white basket that the passenger stated was his. On top of the clothes that were in the basket, claimed by the male passenger, was a zip lock bag containing mushrooms. Another clear zip lock bag was found containing more mushrooms and the male driver advised that was his. Carr then found a brown food bag that contained even more mushrooms. Carr returned to the two subjects and read them their Miranda Rights and they both understood. The male driver told Carr that he had purchased the mushrooms from a friend of his but did not realize they were illegal. Both subjects were advised they were being placed under arrest for possession of Schedule I narcotics. Officer Astyk transported both men to the Jones County LEC and Carr secured warrants for possession of Schedule I (mushrooms) and served the warrants to both men.
The male driver was also issued a citation for driving too closely.
Both subjects were turned over to jail staff for booking.
