THOMASVILLE, Ga. — A Thomasville Police Department (TPD) officer required medical treatment after encountering a vehicle collision while on West Jackson Street patrol, according to reports. 

About 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, the officer saw a red Ford F-150 that had struck a utility pole at West Jackson’s intersection with Railroad Avenue.

He saw a man stumbling while walking away from the crash site. The man continued to walk away, despite the officer’s attempts to stop him, a TPD incident report stated.

The man, Frederic Jones, told the officer he was leaving.

The report stated Jones used loud profanity toward the officer, who detected an odor of alcohol on Jones’ breath and clothing. Jones deflected the officer’s questions about how much alcohol he had consumed.

When the officer attempted to handcuff Jones, the suspect “took a defensive stance.” The officer put Jones on the ground to handcuff him. The suspect continued to resist.

After a scuffle, the officer handcuffed Jones and double-locked the handcuffs. The officer was transported to Archbold Memorial Hospital for treatment of scrapes, abrasions and bruises.

The officer’s Fitbit watch was broken during the arrest.

“He returned to duty immediately,” said Maj. Wade Glover, TPD public information officer.

Jones refused to submit to alcohol blood, urine and breath tests.

Glover said a suspect has only one chance to submit to the tests.

“If they refuse, that’s an automatic suspension of your driver’s license, depending on circumstances,” Glover said.

Jones is charged with driving under influence, failure to maintain lane and endangering lawful pursuits of another.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820