The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department March 14-20, 2025.
March 14
Defiant driver
Dep. Elrod was conducting a road check at the intersection of Bowen Hill Road and Hwy.
49 when a vehicle approached the road check coming from the Haddock area. Elrod made contact with the male driver and the male advised Elrod that he did not have his license on him.
The male driver gave the deputy his license number, however, did not give his name. The male was instructed to pull off to the side of the roadway. A check of his license came back with his name and showed his driver’s license was valid. Inv. Hall was on scene and recognized the male driver and went over to have a conversation with him. Inv. Hall asked the male if it would be ok for him to look inside his vehicle. The male would not directly answer Hall’s question and became verbally evasive about giving his answer. Elrod at that time made the decision to deploy his K9 partner on the vehicle. The male was asked to exit the vehicle and again became verbally defiant and questioned why he had to get out of the vehicle. Hall advised the male that it was for officer safety while the K9 was being used. The male subject finally got out of the vehicle. A search of the interior of the vehicle resulted in finding a black semi-automatic pistol in the center console. The male subject was asked if he was a convicted felon and he responded that he was. The male driver was then placed in handcuffs and verified through GCIC/NCIC system that he was indeed a convicted felon. The male driver was transported to the Jones County LEC where he was issued a warrant for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and a citation for no license on his person.
Possession of firearm and marijuana
Lt. Carr was on routine patrol on Griswoldville Road when he noticed a vehicle with the window tint so dark, he could not see the driver of the vehicle. At that time, Carr activated his blue lights conducting a traffic stop on Pineview Drive. Carr approached the driver and advised the male the reason for the stop. The male driver advised Carr that he was not aware of the tint law in Georgia. Also, while speaking to the male, Carr detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Carr went to his patrol car and printed the male a warning citation for the window tint. When the lieutenant went back to the male subject, he asked him to step out of the vehicle and explained the GA window tint law. Carr then asked the male driver about the odor of marijuana and the male advised Carr that he had smoked earlier, and the odor must have stayed on his clothes.
Inv. Hall arrived on scene to assist with the stop. The male driver then advised the officers that there was a firearm inside the vehicle that his friend had left in there. The male subject also advised the officers that he was a convicted felon. At that time, the male was secured in handcuffs and advised he was being detained. Deputy Reno had arrived and read the male his Miranda Warning. Carr then began to do a probable cause search on the vehicle.
On the front floorboard, the lieutenant found a black zippered bag with a Smith and Wesson pistol inside. The firearm was loaded with 15 nine MM bullets. Carr asked the male if there was anything in the trunk of the vehicle and the male advised that the trunk would not open. Carr obtained the keys from the vehicle and proceeded to open the trunk with the key, and it worked.
Inside the trunk, the lieutenant found a Ziploc bag with a large amount of marijuana inside.
Carr advised the male he was also being arrested for felony possession of marijuana. Dep.
Reno transported the male subject to the Jones County LEC. Upon arrival at the LEC, Carr secured warrants for felony possession of marijuana and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony. The warrants were served to the male driver, and he was turned over to jail staff.
March 16
Crack cocaine, marijuana, wrong tag and a warrant
Dep. Elrod was on patrol when he was alerted to a vehicle that had just entered Jones County that had expired registration. Elrod verified the tag information on the GCIC/ NCIC system, and it came back to show that the tag did not belong on that vehicle. Elrod was able to locate the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of Stratford Dr. and Shurling Dr. Once stopped, the driver tried to immediately exit the vehicle. Elrod made contact with the male driver and questioned him about the tag. The male advised he knew the tag did not belong on that vehicle; however, he was trying to get it registered. The deputy asked the male subject for his driver’s license and the male stated he did not have it on him at the time. Elrod asked the male if he actually had a license and the male advised he did not. Elrod asked dispatch to run the male’s information and it came back to show his license was suspended and he was wanted out of Monroe County. The male was placed in handcuffs at that time. Dep. Shurley arrived on scene to assist. The officers did a pat down of the male subject before securing him in the patrol car and Shurley located several pieces of what appeared to be crack cocaine in the chest zipper of the male’s jacket pocket. The male told the deputies that it was not cocaine that it was plastic that came off the dash of the car.
Elrod advised he knew from experience what crack cocaine looks like and conducted a field test of the substance on scene.
The test gave a blue color which indicates positive for cocaine.
The male was secured in Dep.
Shurley’s patrol vehicle while a vehicle inventory was conducted. A glass crack pipe was located laying on the back seat passenger side and there was a marijuana cigar, or “blunt” on the front passenger floorboard of the vehicle. The male driver had no proof if insurance and no current registration. Dep.
Shurley transported the male driver to the Jones County LEC for booking. The male driver will be charged with possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana less than one ounce, suspended license, use and possession of drug related objects, no insurance, uses of tag to misrepresent or conceal and tag/registration requirements.
