One of our officers was on patrol in the area of Highway 80, when a car in front of him suddenly accelerated to 55 mph in the 35mph speed zone. After stopping the vehicle, the officer noticed that the driver appeared extremely nervous, and seemed unable to stop talking, or sit still. During the course of their conversation, the officer was also able to smell the odor of marijuana emitting from within the vehicle. A subsequent search of the car led to the discovery of multiple packages of marijuana, THC oil, gummies, chocolate-infused hallucinogenic mushrooms and various objects commonly associated with the sale or distribution of illicit substances.

During the course of the search, the suspect became agitated and began moving towards a nearby tree line while claiming that he had to urinate. When ordered to stop, the suspect refused, prompting officers to move in and place him under arrest. As the officers took hold of the suspect, he began to fight back, forcing them to pull him down to the ground in an attempt to gain control of his hands. Once on the ground, the suspect continued in his attempts to fight and flee, forcing an officer to deploy his Taser in “drive stun” mode to the back of one of the suspect’s legs.

Once in handcuffs, the suspect was charged with Speeding, Driving While License Suspended, Obstruction, Possession of Drug Related Objects, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of a Controlled Substance (THC Oil), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Psilocybin), and Possession with Intent to Distribute.

While on patrol, one of our officers spotted a vehicle traveling 51 mph in a 30 mph zone. After stopping the car, the officer learned that the driver’s license was suspended. He was placed under arrest and charged with Speeding and Driving While License Suspended.

While on patrol, officers received an alert from a license plate reader in reference to a stolen U-haul on the island. After stopping the vehicle, officers spoke with the driver, who admitted to the theft. He was subsequently placed under arrest and charged with Theft by Receiving.

Last week, we told you about a mother who was looking for a lost iPad that her non-verbal, autistic son uses to communicate. We’re happy to report that the device was turned into the Tybee Island Police Department on Friday. While the screen was cracked, the iPad itself appeared to still be functioning. The mother was notified of the find and came to retrieve the device the following day.

While on foot patrol, one of our officers was talking with a group of pedestrians as they all crossed Butler Avenue together. During this time, the officer looked up to see a car speed through the crosswalk, barely missing the pedestrians as it continued northbound on Butler. After confirming that the group was ok, the officer ran to his nearby patrol car and proceeded after the suspect vehicle. During the course of the subsequent traffic stop, the driver claimed that he did not have his license on him, and provided a false name and birthdate to the officer. After uncovering the truth, the officer learned that the driver did not have a valid license. He was then placed under arrest and charged with a Crosswalk Violation, Too Fast for Conditions, No Driver’s License and Providing a False Name and Date of Birth to Law Enforcement.

___________________________

That evening, one of our officers was on patrol in the area of Highway 80 when he spotted a vehicle with a defective taillight. After stopping the car, the officer immediately noticed a strong odor of marijuana emitting from within. A backup officer also caught whiff of the weed and reported that he saw the driver stuffing something down the front of his pants. After instructing the driver to exit the vehicle, an officer spotted a handgun sticking out of his waistband. At that time, the 17 year old driver was relieved of the weapon, and a small bag of suspected marijuana. A subsequent search of the vehicle also revealed a large sheath knife and Taser.

The driver was then placed under arrest and charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Minor. The marijuana was placed into the evidence room and marked for destruction.

____________________________

Shortly thereafter, an officer was on patrol in the area of Highway 80, when he spotted a vehicle failing to maintain its lane. After stopping the vehicle, the officer immediately smelled an odor similar to that of an alcoholic beverage emitting from within. The officer also noticed that the driver’s eyes were bloodshot, and that he slurred his words when he spoke. When asked if he would be willing to participate in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, the driver refused. He was then placed under arrest.

While conducting an inventory of the vehicle prior to it being towed from the scene, officers discovered an open can of Coors Light behind the driver’s seat. The driver was then charged with Failure to Maintain Lane, Open Container and DUI (Less Safe).