A man still facing charges of bestiality in Newton County was arrested Saturday afternoon of charges of cocaine possession.

Officers from the Covington Police Department were patrolling the area of West and Corley streets around 5 p.m. when they noticed a man, later identified as 38-year-old Byron Christopher Jordan, walking in the street. When Jordan noticed the officers he reportedly “quickly turned his head to conceal his identity and started walking in the opposite direction.”

After circling around the block officers made contact with Jordan. According to reports they also noticed Jordan drop a small white item from his hand as he started walking towards the officers. 

“As I was talking to Mr. Jordan, I observed that he was very disoriented and confused,” reads the incident report. “When I asked Mr. Jordan where he was coming from, he was unable to give me a location, just stated he just left from talking to somebody he just met.”

Officers were able to retrieve the bag of suspected cocaine from where Jordan allegedly dropped it. As he was being arrested Jordan reportedly said he needed help and he was sorry for what he did.

Jordan was charged in June 2010 with bestiality after witnesses allegedly saw him having sexual intercourse with several horses. Newton County Superior Court Judge Eugene Benton ordered Jordan in June of this year to undergo a mental evaluation before the court proceeds with those charges in order to see if he can be held criminally responsible for his actions. 

Authorities search for suspect in hit-and-run

Authorities are searching for the person who struck a Newton County man then fled the scene Saturday night.

Deputies from the Newton County Sheriff’s Office were called to Newton Medical Center to meet with the victim. The man reportedly told them he had been walking on the eastbound side of Brown Bridge and McGibbeny Road in the grass with a garbage can in his left hand when a vehicle struck the can he was holding, knocking him into a ditch and injuring his ankle.

The man did not see the vehicle or the driver but the accident occurred around 6:15 p.m.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the NCSO at (678) 625-1400 or online at www.newtonsheriffga.org. All tips can be given anonymously.