Henry County Police say they are investigating claims that the man who was being helped by a police officer when he was hit and killed Monday night, tends to run out of gas a lot.

Henry County Police Officer Elgin Daniel was struck and killed in a hit-and-run crash while trying to assist Gordon Jarrett on Highway 138.

Apparently Jarrett is no stranger to local towing services.

Melissa, who works a Stockbridge towing and roadside service company, tells WSB Jarrett has called them several times to report he needs their assistance because his car has run out of gas.

"Gordon Jarrett has called us on at least five occasions.  Four (times), we actually did deliver him gas and deposited it into his tank.  And of course the checks he wrote us bounced,” Melissa said. “But we have known of several other companies around here that he has called and several good Samaritans around that have given him gas in the past month.”

Henry County Police Major Jason Bolton tells WSB they just learned of these allegations on Wednesday afternoon but they are asking investigators to look into the claims.

Bolton says right now, he doesn't know that if the allegations are true that a crime was committed.

"If there's something there to it that indicates a possible crime then we'll most definitely speak to the prosecutor's office about it," said Bolton.

He says he was caught off guard by the claims.

"It was disturbing to hear the allegations and they just didn't make a lot of sense to me.  So, you know, of course, we want to get to the bottom of it and figure out what's going on here," said Bolton.

Melissa says they had called the police as late as Friday night to report that Jarrett was again out of gas on the highway but by the time police arrived, he was already gone.

"We just feel like he's scamming and if he would stay at home because he doesn't have gas money to go anywhere then he wouldn't be putting other people in danger," said Melissa.

Police are only investigating the claims and have not yet questioned Jarrett.  Jarrett did not return our phone call.

Meantime, the driver charged in the hit-and-run, Ruben Marin-Garibay, was in court on Wednesday where bond was denied.