By Baker Ellis and Daniel Evans
The LaGrange Daily News

Troup County Commissioner Morris Jones was arrested Saturday night and charged with DUI-alcohol, failure to maintain lane and due care while operating a motor vehicle, according to arrest/release records from the Troup County Jail.

Jones was booked at 9:42 p.m. and released at 10:08 p.m. on bond Saturday evening. Jones is in his fifth term as county commissioner and represents District 4. He attended Tuesday’s Troup County Commission meeting.

When reached for comment, Jones called the arrest a “pending matter,” and chose not provide any additional comment.

Troup County Commission Chairman Patrick Crews provided a brief comment related to the arrest.

“This is a pending personal legal matter, and I can’t comment on pending personal legal matters,” Crews said.

Maurice Raines, post commander at the LaGrange Georgia State Patrol office said Jones was treated like any other impaired driver during the course of the arrest. He was pulled over on Highway 109.

“Our job is to get impaired drivers off the roadway,” Raines said. “[My corporal] encountered an impaired driver and did his job, and I stand behind him 100 percent. Once we are through with our investigation as far as putting a case packet together, it will be forwarded to the courts to decide what is to be done with it.”

Per title 40, chapter 6, article 11 of Georgia state law, due care while operating a motor vehicle stipulates “a driver shall exercise due care in operating a motor vehicle on the highways of this state and shall not engage in any actions which shall distract such driver from the safe operation of such vehicle.”

Raines further specified DUI charges and due care while operating a motor vehicle charges do not always go hand-in-hand.

“There has to be another factor involved,” Raines said.

The arrest/release report did not provide additional detail on the due care charge, and the GSP’s finalized investigation report was not complete by 12 p.m. ET Wednesday to provide additional detail.

According to court records, Jones is scheduled for a court date March 11.