A Milledgeville man who attempted to sell drugs at an Eatonton gas station ended up in jail when the proposed patrons called the police.
Zachary Scott Rowland, 25, of North Richmond Street in Milledgeville, was arrested around 2:45 a.m. on Sunday, April 2, and taken to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) jail, according to jail reports.
Employees of Jet Food Store and gas station on Gray Road called the Eatonton Police Department (EPD) and reported a man, later identified as Rowland, hanging around the gas station’s air pumps while holding a gun and offering to sell marijuana to people.
He also tried to sell some of the drug to a Jet employee, according to a report by EPD Officer Christian Waldroup, who responded to the call.
Sgt. Eli James and Officer Dillon Waldroup assisted the responding officer and placed Rowland in handcuffs for “investigative detention” while they gathered more information to better understand the situation.
Rowland had been seated on the passenger side in a parked car at the gas station when officers arrived, and a preliminary search of the vehicle turned up several jars of marijuana and a handgun. Rowland was then arrested, according to Waldroup’s report, and as he was placed in the backseat of Sgt. James’ patrol vehicle, Rowland told the officers that everything they would find in the car belonged to him and not the female driver.
Officer Christian Waldroup walked through the parking lot and food store talking to witnesses to gather more information while D. Waldroup continued to search the car. Inside the store, C. Waldroup learned that Rowland had also attempted to sell marijuana to a different Jet employee inside the restroom, and that employee reportedly said they saw Rowland pull out a bag containing a clear substance and a needle, at which time the employee left the restroom.
Meanwhile, D. Waldroup found more jars of marijuana in the parking lot, a plastic bag of methamphetamine, some drug-related objects, a scale, and other items that were taken as evidence.
The female driver was not charged and was allowed to leave with her car once the search was completed. Meanwhile, Rowland was taken to Eatonton Police Department for booking, where he reportedly said he felt like his heart was going to explode.
The EPD dispatcher called Putnam County EMS, but Rowland refused treatment or to be checked and was taken to the PCSO jail.