On Sunday, Michael Anthony Jenkins, 41, of Valdosta, was arrested at the Valdosta Police Department after officers found him with suspected cocaine. The arrest occurred when Jenkins visited the department attempting to retrieve money that had been confiscated earlier that day during a separate incident on Bemiss Road, according to the Valdosta Police Department.
The series of events began Sunday morning around 11 a.m. when Valdosta Police Department officers responded to a 911 call on Bemiss Road. The caller reported a man lying on the ground, indicating that the individual appeared to have a gun with his finger seemingly stuck in it. Upon arrival, officers found Jenkins on the ground, described as incoherent and rocking back and forth. Due to his condition and inability to answer questions, officers contacted South Georgia Medical Services Emergency Medical Technicians to evaluate him.
Before EMS arrived on the scene, officers conducted a search for the reported gun on Jenkins' person. The search, according to a Valdosta Police Department release, did not yield a firearm but instead uncovered approximately 27.5 grams of suspected cocaine. Officers also found packing materials commonly associated with drug transactions, along with money that was suspected to be linked to drug dealing. During this initial investigation, witnesses told officers that someone had placed the gun into a car in the parking lot. The firearm was subsequently located there while EMS personnel were attending to Jenkins. Officers also determined that Jenkins was a convicted felon. Following the medical evaluation, EMS transported Jenkins to a local hospital for further treatment. He was released from the hospital later that same day.
The second incident unfolded at 8:15 p.m. on Sunday when Jenkins arrived at the Valdosta Police Department, specifically seeking to retrieve the money that had been confiscated earlier. At this point, officers took Jenkins into custody on charges related to the morning incident, which included possessing both drugs and a gun as a convicted felon. Before Jenkins was transported to the Lowndes County Jail, officers conducted a search of his person. During this search, they discovered a small plastic bag containing suspected cocaine and additional money in his pocket, found within the police department itself.
Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan commented on the unusual circumstances of the second incident. Chief Manahan noted that after being evaluated and released from the hospital, Jenkins then "decided that he wanted to come to the police department" to inquire about his money. The Chief explained that Jenkins apparently overlooked the narcotics and firearm officers had seized earlier. She stated that during the subsequent arrest in the police department's lobby, officers discovered that Jenkins had "brought more narcotics with him into our department."
Michael Anthony Jenkins faces multiple felony charges as a result of the day's events. These charges include two counts of possession of a Schedule 2 substance, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was booked into the Lowndes County Jail.
