The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department March 3-6 2024.
March 3
“A big pot head”
Deputy Elrod was on assigned shift when he noticed a vehicle pass by him at a very slow rate of speed based on the posted speed limit sign. Elrod pulled out of his location and quickly caught up to the vehicle and immediately began to smell a very strong odor of marijuana coming through the vents in his vehicle. There were no other vehicles in the vicinity that could have potentially caused the odor. The closer Elrod got to the vehicle, the stronger the odor got.
Elrod activated his blue lights in order to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver came to a stop halfway in the roadway and halfway on the shoulder of the road instead of pulling off completely onto the shoulder of the road.
Elrod approached the vehicle and made contact with the male driver and a female passenger. During the initial contact with the occupants of the car, Elrod immediately noticed the very strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.
The deputy also noticed there was burnt ends of marijuana roaches in the center cup holder of the vehicle in plain view. Elrod asked the male driver if there were any guns or weapons in the vehicle and the male driver stated there was a gun in the driver door pocket. During the deputy’s interaction with the driver, he noticed the male appeared to be very “high” and had bloodshot eyes and could barely hold his eyes open. At that time, Deputy Robinson arrived on scene to assist with the stop. Elrod had the male driver and female passenger exit the vehicle to do a probable cause search. The handgun was found in the driver’s side door pocket as the male stated. Elrod found various used “cigarillo” wrappers in the center console and several burnt ends of marijuana cigar roaches near the cup holder as well. Dep. Elrod then located a black bookbag in thebackseat. Insidethebookbag the deputy found three sandwich bags of marijuana, two packages of fruit flavored THC gummies, two cherry flavored packages of THC gummies, one package of watermelon THC gummies and one package of Errlli Shark THC gummies. Also found was a digital scale and several plastic trays commonly used for rolling marijuana cigars. There was also a box of sandwich bags inside the book bag. When the driver saw that the deputy had found the book bag, the male stated to Elrod that he was a “big pot head” and he uses all the items for his personal use. The deputy found several fully loaded Glock magazines in the bag as well, and the male driver advised the deputy he goes shooting sometimes. Elrod continued the vehicle search and found a glass jar with a lid in the bottom of the female passenger’s purse. The deputy asked the male driver if he would perform a Standardized Field Sobriety Test and the male agreed.
During the test, the male seemed to be falling asleep and Elrod had to put his arm out because the male seemed to almost fall over with his eyes closed. Based on the observations on scene, Elrod placed the male driver in handcuffs and read him the Implied Consent for blood draw over the age of 21. The male agreed to Implied Consent.
Both the male driver and female passenger were transported to the Jones County LEC. The female passenger was issued a citation for possession of marijuana less than one ounce. The male driver was issued a citation for DUI less safe drugs and warrants for possession of marijuana over one ounce (felony), possession of schedule I (six counts for the THC gummies) and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
March 4
Pedestrian in roadway
Deputy Astyk was on patrol in the area of Hwy. 49 and Griswoldville when the vehicle in front of him suddenly swerved into the next lane of traffic. When the vehicle swerved, Astyk thought it was very strange until he noticed a male with a walking stick in the middle of the right lane walking against traffic. Astyk also had to swerve his vehicle in order not to strike the male subject. At that time, the deputy activated his blue lights and made contact with the male subject. Astyk was able to identify the male and found that the male subject had an active warrant confirmed with dispatch. The male was unsteady on his feet, was slurring his words and the apparent soiling of his clothes indicated to the deputy that the subject was impaired. The male was placed in handcuffs and transported to the Jones County LEC and given a citation for pedestrian in roadway.
