The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department Aug. 3-13, 2024.
Aug. 3
Biting and spitting on officers
Deputy Astyk was dispatched to a location in reference to damage to property with a physical altercation. Astyk and Deputy Elrod arrived on scene and located the female that was causing the problem. The female appeared to have a visible wound and was covered in blood.
Elrod asked the female subject what happened, and it seemed that the female was in an unclear state of mind. While speaking to the female subject, she made a forward motion towards Astyk with her hand in the air. The deputy was able to deflect the female’s hand and grabbed her wrist attempting to put it behind her back. The female refused to follow any orders such as putting her hands behind her back. Astyk grabbed the female’s hand, and she began fighting the deputies at that time. Astyk drew his Taser and placed it between the female’s shoulder blades and instructed the female to get on the ground. The female finally complied. Astyk and Elrod struggled to get the female in handcuffs once to the ground, but they were finally able to restrain her. The female would at times pop up and begin yelling profanities to passersby, along with making sexual advances and statements towards the deputies. The female was advised multiple times to stop with the sexual statements, but she continued anyway. Capt. Douglas arrived on scene to assist. The female continued to try and fight with the deputies even though she was restrained. The female subject was kicking the deputies to the extent that they placed her legs in zip cuffs to restrain her more. During the struggle, the female would ramble and mutter profanities, twisting and turning her body and her face to where she was attempting to bite Deputy Elrod. The female was ordered to stop biting and spitting at the deputy, but she continued to do so. Capt. Douglas called for EMS to come and evaluate the female due to her actions. EMS placed a mask on the female so she would quit spitting and biting. EMS were asking the female questions, but her behavior was so erratic, they had to restrain the female on a stretcher.
Even restrained, the female was still trying to get up and would not stop moving to receive the medical attention she needed. The female was transported to a local hospital.
During the altercation with the other deputies, Deputy Allen started speaking to the other parties involved. The other female involved advised the deputy that she was going down the road and the irate female subject was out in the road walking around and came up to the complainant’s vehicle and started banging on the vehicle. Another female in a separate vehicle behind the female complainant advised she got out of her vehicle in an attempt to get the irate female away from the complainant’s vehicle. The irate female was able to knock the glass and break the driver’s side mirror of the complainant’s vehicle, and then began trying to get inside the vehicle. While beating on the vehicle, the irate female began aggressively pulling on the driver’s door handle and broke the actual door handle off the vehicle. When the aggressive female broke the handle of the car door, she flew back hitting her head on the road causing the injury the deputies initially saw. Warrants will be obtained for the irate female subject for damage to property, two counts of simple battery, two counts of obstruction and reckless conduct.
Aug. 5
Arrested for warrants
Deputy Dennis was patrolling the area of Hwy. 49 when he observed a vehicle parked behind a closed business. Dennis approached the vehicle and made contact with a male driver and female passenger. A GCIC/NCIC check of the male driver indicated he had an active warrant out of Bibb County. The male was placed in handcuffs and put under arrest. The female passenger gave the deputy a false name twice before advising her correct name. The male driver was transported to the Jones County jail, while the female was released with a verbal warning about giving a false name.
Aug. 8
Possession of heroin
Corp. Sullivan was patrolling the area of Joycliff Road and Hwy. 49 when he observed a vehicle that fit the description of a vehicle given that attempted a robbery at a local business the prior day. Sullivan ran the vehicle information through the GCIC/NCIC system, and it came back to show the registered owner had a suspended license. Sullivan continued to follow the vehicle as it turned on Hwy. 49 and observed the driver appeared to match the information given as the registered owner of the vehicle. At that time, Sullivan initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. Sullivan noticed as he was getting out of his patrol vehicle that the male driver was reaching down with his left hand. When the corporal approached the male driver, he noticed the male seemed to be very nervous and visibly shaking.
Sullivan advised the reason for the stop and the male stated he “thought he had until today to pay the money.” Sullivan was unsure what the male was referring to. Deputy Reno was on scene to assist Sullivan and placed the male subject in handcuffs. Sullivan explained to the male that he would be released on a ticket but that he had to be booked in jail for driving while his license was suspended. The male asked if he could call his girlfriend as he had kids in the vehicle with him. The male also advised Sullivan to leave his phone and wallet with the girlfriend. Sullivan advised the male he would count the money in the wallet on camera before he gave it to the girlfriend. Sullivan looked inside the wallet where cash is usually kept and noticed two small bags of suspected heroin and two small blue straws. The male told Sullivan that he forgot it was in the vehicle. Sullivan confiscated the wallet for evidence and the male subject was transported to the Jones County LEC where he was charged with possession of schedule I drugs and given a citation for driving while license suspended.
It wasn’t me
Deputy Elrod was on patrol on Hwy.
49 when he observed a vehicle from a Flock camera alert that had an altered tag. The tag that was on the vehicle was for a different car when Elrod ran the VIN information. Elrod got behind the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop.
When Elrod got out of his patrol car, he noticed a lot of movement inside the vehicle. The left rear window on the vehicle was busted out and Elrod could see that it appeared that the driver had left the driver’s seat and was sitting down in the back seat of the vehicle in the middle. The deputy approached the driver window and the front passenger had to reach over and roll the window down, as the driver was no longer in the driver’s seat. Elrod asked the passengers who was driving the vehicle and no one in the vehicle would admit who was driving the car. Elrod also noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Elrod was able to identify the female that had been driving, and jumped in the back seat, as the registered owner of the vehicle and she had no valid driver’s license and a warrant out of Bibb County. The female driver was placed in handcuffs and put in the back seat of Deputy Marcum’s vehicle as he had arrived on scene to assist.
Elrod conducted a search of the vehicle and located an amount of marijuana less than one ounce in a fuzzy purse. The deputy asked the occupants of the vehicle who the purse belonged to, and no one initially owned up to it and the occupants stated that the purse belonged to one of the children in the vehicle. Elrod advised the occupants that someone needed to own up to the marijuana and they needed to decide between themselves who it belonged to. The female driver took responsibility and said it belonged to her. The female was issued citations for possession of marijuana less than one ounce, driving on a suspended license, no insurance and concealing a vehicle with the wrong tag. She was transported by Deputy Marcum to the Jones County LEC for booking and her outstanding warrant from Bibb County.
Aug. 13
BOLO issued
Corp. Sullivan was dispatched to the area of Hwy. 11 in reference to a be on the lookout for a vehicle with a male driver and female passenger. The BOLO that was given advised both subjects were wanted out of Washington County. The information given stated the vehicle crossed into Jones County from Jasper County. Sullivan and Deputy Reno went to the area and as they drove towards Jasper County, they passed the vehicle.
Sullivan quickly turned around to try and catch up to the vehicle on Old Hwy. 11.
Sullivan quickly noticed that there was no dust from the dirt road, so the vehicle had to be in the first couple of houses on the paved road part or on Morris Road.
The officers road down Morris Road and was able to find the vehicle. The hood was up on the vehicle and the male driver was standing in front of the vehicle while the female passenger remained in the car. Sullivan grabbed the male’s left wrist and noticed that his right arm had a bandage on it. The male advised Sullivan that he cut it when he put his arm through a window. Reno placed the female in handcuffs at that time. Deputy Shurley, Elrod, Robinson and Sheriff Reece arrived on scene. Sullivan handed off the male subject to Deputy Robinson and instructed him to check the male subject’s injured arm. Once it was determined the cut was above the wrist, Sullivan advised Robinson to place the male in handcuffs.
The male was placed in Sullivan’s patrol vehicle while the female was placed in Deputy Shurley’s vehicle. Deputy Elrod deployed his K9 Nesa around the vehicle and the K9 alerted. A very small amount of marijuana was found and disposed of. Upon further search of the vehicle, a camo backpack was found in the passenger side floorboard that had a clear container filled with orange pills and a clear bag with more of the same pills. Elrod looked up the pills and they were believed to be Suboxone. The male subject was read his Miranda Rights and he agreed to speak to Sullivan. The male admitted that the pills were his and he got them from his aunt for pain.
He also admitted that he did not have a prescription for the medication. The warrants from Washington County were verified and both the male and female were transported to the Jones County LEC. The male was charged with possession of schedule II narcotics and a hold for Washington County was placed on both the male and female.
