Jones County deputies find 14-year-old with marijuana during Highway 49 patrol

A Jones County Sheriff's Office patrol turned into an unexpected encounter when deputies discovered a 14-year-old carrying marijuana on Highway 49.

GRAY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Jones County Sheriff’s Office patrol turned into an unexpected encounter when deputies discovered a 14-year-old carrying marijuana on Highway 49.

According to a sheriff’s office Facebook post, Corporal Sullivan and Deputy Reno offered the teenager a ride due to the hot weather and heat advisory.

Before allowing the teenager into the patrol car, deputies followed protocol and conducted a pat-down search. That’s when they say they detected the smell of marijuana. When questioned, the teen claimed it was fake marijuana purchased online from Temu. After resisting arrest, the teen was handcuffed and taken to the sheriff’s office, where he eventually admitted to being 14 years old.

Deputies contacted the teen’s mother, who had been searching for him, and notified the Department of Juvenile Justice, which advised deputies to release the teen to his mother.

“But we decided to store his ¾ of a pound of real marijuana in our evidence lockup,” the post stated. “There are times you just can’t trust what you purchase on the internet folks. Maybe a taxi would have been a better ride.”