The following information is gleaned from incident reports, which are public record, from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and Gray Police Department April 3-6, 2025.
April 3
Convicted felon, firearm
Dep. Elrod was on patrol when he was alerted by a Flock camera that a vehicle just entered Jones County on Hwy. 49 near Joycliff Road with expired registration.
Shortly after that alert, the vehicle also hit a Flock Camera on Griswoldville Road headed toward Avalon Road. A check of the tag number through the GCIC/NCIC system revealed that the registration was expired, no insurance and the registered owner had a suspended license.
While Elrod was trying to locate the vehicle, he observed it pulling into a driveway of a residence.
Elrod pulled in the driveway just as the subject was parking the vehicle. When the driver stepped out of the vehicle Elrod made contact with the male driver and identified him as the registered owner of the vehicle.
The deputy asked the male if he had insurance on the vehicle and the male advised Elrod that he just got the vehicle back from the shop and he was taking it home. While speaking to the male driver, Elrod noticed that there was an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The deputy asked the male if there was any marijuana inside the vehicle and the male would not give a direct answer. Sgt.
Sullivan was asked to assist with the incident. While waiting on the sargent’s arrival, the male subject retrieved a portion of a smoked marijuana blunt from the vehicle and gave it to Elrod. Once Sullivan arrived on scene, Elrod conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle. Between the driver’s seat and the center console, Elrod found a Springfield Hellcat 9mm pistol.
Elrod contacted dispatch and asked for a criminal history background of the male. Dispatch advised that the male was a convicted felon. No illegal drugs were found in the vehicle. At that time, Elrod placed the male driver in handcuffs and transported him to the Jones County LEC where the male was issued a warrant for possession of a firearm by convicted felon, citations for suspended license, expired registration and no insurance. A warning was given for the possession of marijuana less than one ounce.
April 5
Suspicious person
Deputy Morris was dispatched to a local residence in reference to a suspicious person. Upon arrival, Morris met with two complainants that advised a male came up their driveway and stood in front of their vehicle looking around then attempted to open the vehicle door, however, it was locked. One of the complainants advised Morris that he went outside and made contact with the suspicious male and the male subject told him he was looking for a dog. The complainant advised that he tried to keep the male occupied until a deputy could arrive on scene, however, the male left on foot walking. The other complainant emailed Deputy Morris a video that had been captured of the male subject. Morris recognized the male in the video as he was just released from the Jones County LEC.
Morris drove around and checked the neighborhood. She observed a male subject standing on a resident’s porch attempting to conceal himself behind a pillar. Morris made contact with the male subject and identified him. The deputy asked the male what he was doing, and he advised he was going to ask the homeowner if he could use their phone. The male stated that he was trying to get to his mother’s home. Morris advised the male she would give him a ride and he was escorted to her patrol vehicle and placed in the rear seat. Before leaving, Deputy Dennis arrived on scene and Deputy Morris explained the events that transpired. A decision was made to arrest the male subject for criminal attempt to commit a felony.
The male subject was removed from Morris’ patrol vehicle to be searched and handcuffed. Morris advised the male he was being transported to the Jones County LEC and being placed under arrest. At that time, the male subject became irate and started to threaten the deputy by saying she would regret this. Morris asked the male subject what he meant by that, and the male replied he was going to “run her over, then back over her, then park on top of her and spin the tires and defecate on her.” The male also stated he would “call his friends to also come defecate on her body and do the same to her children.” Once at the LEC, officer West responded to assist and the male told West “he was going to kill him as well.” The male was escorted to the booking area and searched. Officer West found a folding knife in the male’s pocket and at that time, the male told the officer that he was “going to stab” him with it. Also found on the male’s possession was a Bluetooth speaker, a pair of Vortex Binoculars, a wallet and a blue small Ziploc baggie containing a small amount of possible marijuana.
Warrants were sought and obtained for criminal attempt to commit a felony, two counts of felony terroristic threats and acts and misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
April 6
DUI
Dep. Elliot was traveling west on Joycliff Road from GA Hwy. 49 when he observed a vehicle with the headlights on parked in a strange manner in the parking lot of a local business. As Elliot passed the parked vehicle, he observed the driver of the vehicle slumped into the driver’s seat.
Elliot made a U-turn and went back to the suspicious vehicle. The deputy noticed a male subject behind the wheel apparently unconscious and the vehicle was still running and in drive. Elliot advised dispatch of his location and tried to wake the male up by yelling and speaking loudly.
The car stereo was playing loudly, and the male was still unresponsive.
Elliot opened the vehicle door and shook the male with the end of his flashlight. After several attempts the male became somewhat alert to where he could follow instructions.
The male subject was able to put the vehicle into reverse, drive, park, reverse and finally put it in park.
Elliot had to shut the vehicle off and asked the male for his driver’s license.
The male retrieved his wallet and provided the deputy with his debit card and a $20 dollar bill. The deputy advised the male that he didn’t ask for that, he only wanted his driver’s license. The male finally got his license and handed his license and debit card to the deputy. Elliot asked the male subject what was going on with him and the male refused to speak at all. The deputy asked if he needed medical assistance and the male again refused to answer and stared straight ahead. Deputy Morris arrived on scene to assist. Morris tried to get the male subject to speak to her, however, the male refused and continued to stare straight ahead.
Elliot called for EMS to evaluate the male just to make sure he was not in need of medical attention. Elliot then ran the male’s information through the GCIC/NCIC/DOL system, and it returned showing the male had a valid license but had several prior DUI citations noted in the system.
Deputy Morris advised Elliot that she noticed a strong smell of intoxicants on the male’s breath. Elliot had the male step out of the vehicle. The male subject was very slow in getting out of the vehicle and had to use the door frame to steady himself. Elliot asked the male if he was willing to perform the Standardized Field Sobriety Test and the male remained absolutely silent. The deputy then asked the male if he was willing to blow into a Portable Breath Test device and he still remained silent. Due to the strong intoxicants on the male’s breath, his watery eyes and his slow slurred speech, the male subject was arrested for DUI. Elliot transported the male to the Jones County LEC and asked the male once again if he was willing to provide a sample of blood and the male replied that he would.
The on-call nurse obtained the blood sample. During the vehicle inventory search, Elliot found an opened half full bottle of Tequila.
