Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) patrol deputies arrested two older teenagers on drug charges at a park in Lula early Thursday morning.
HCSO NARRTIVE:
“Deputies were on patrol in the area of Rafe Banks Wellness Park on Athens Street around 3:45 when they noticed a vehicle inside the park. Knowing the park was closed, deputies approached the parked vehicle, which had its running lights on. As deputies exited their patrol vehicle, one of the teens, later identified as Jeremiah Isiah Morgan, 19, of Commerce, walked up to the deputies from the playground area of the park. Morgan told the deputies the vehicle was his, and he had been sleeping in the car because he was homeless.
Deputies asked to look inside the vehicle because the windows were fogged over, leading them to believe someone might be inside. When they opened the door, they found Shane Hart, 17, of Gainesville (who also claimed to be homeless) and a 16-year-old girl in the vehicle. Because of a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car, deputies searched the vehicle. They found three (3) THC vapes, a glass smoking device and a grinder inside the car.
A second girl, age 15, was located at the park playground. Deputies determined she had accompanied the others to the park. The girl was in possession of a bag containing 42 grams of marijuana (estimated street value $420), which she had concealed in her clothing. Deputies determined the marijuana belonged to Hart and Morgan.
Both Hart and Morgan were transported to the Hall County Jail, where they remain at last check.
Hart was charged with felony marijuana possession, felony possession of Schedule I drugs (THC vapes), loitering or prowling and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Morgan was charged with felony marijuana possession, possession of drug-related objects, obstruction, loitering or prowling and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The juvenile girls were released to their legal guardians.”