On April 26, law enforcement units were dispatched to the area of State Route 212, traveling toward Milledgeville, in reference to a reckless driver. Dispatch advised that a small gray jeep was all over the roadway.
It was reported that the vehicle had almost hit several vehicles head on and had almost hit the edge of the two bridges coming into Baldwin County on 212. As the vehicle approached one of the patrol cars, an officer observed the driver’s side tires cross over the center line and into their lane. Behind the jeep, was a white 4-door car, as well as several other vehicles. A deputy was near the intersection of State Route 22 and 212 and conducted a traffic stop with the vehicle.
The deputy stated he could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the driver.
When the driver, identified as Carl Belford, stepped out of the vehicle, an officer observed him to be wet and he was covered in dirt. Belford’s eyes were watery and bloodshot. The driver also had slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet. Belford stated he had not consumed any alcoholic beverages since he left Puerto Rico.
He consented to a field sobriety test. He was determined to be unsafe to drive. He did not wish to take the portable roadside breath test. Belford received citations for driving under the influence under 21 refusal and failure to drive within a single lane.
Driver caught with cocaine
On May 3, while observing traffic in the area of Vinson Highway, an officer observed a male operating a 2001 Honda Accord traveling south on Vinson Highway while not wearing a seatbelt. The vehicle came to a stop in the turning lane in front of 2106 Vinson Highway. The officer smelled the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The driver, Demorrius Rogers, stated a small piece of a blunt was inside the vehicle.
He stated he had smoked marijuana approximately 40 minutes prior to the traffic stop. Rogers did not give consent to search his vehicle but was informed that since the officer could smell the odor of marijuana, he had probable cause to search his vehicle. Rogers stated there was some cocaine in the vehicle but claimed it did not belong to him.
The officer requested the Georgia State Patrol to respond to the location to determine if Rogers was operating a vehicle while under the influence of any substance. Inside the vehicle, the officer located a bag containing a white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine.
After completing the roadside testing, Rogers was placed under arrest by the trooper for driving under the influence of drugs. A warrant for possession of cocaine was sworn against Demorrius Rogers.
Driver and passengers arrested during traffic stop
On May 3, while patrolling the area of Thomas Field Road and Irwinton Road, an officer observed a silver van traveling north on Irwinton Road. The van had an expired vehicle registration. The driver, identified as Cornelius Brown, stated he had picked up two female passengers at the Royal Inn. When asked, Brown stated the front seat female’s name was “Carrie,” but he did not know the back seat passenger’s name. Before the officer could ask both females for their information, they began explaining why they were in the vehicle and asked to leave. The officer asked both if they would willingly provide their names, to which both refused, stating they were not the owner or driver of the vehicle. While they were not required by law to provide their names at this time, they were still not free until the stop was completed. Brown agreed to a consensual search of the vehicle. He was driving on a suspended driver’s license in violation of his DUI permit.
Brown agreed to a search of his person and the officer located a glass pipe, commonly used to inhale narcotics and a bag containing suspected methamphetamine.
Due to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle, the officer informed the passengers they had to identify everyone in the vehicle. The rear seat passenger was identified as Threadis Harris by her name and date of birth. As Harris exited the vehicle, she informed the officer that she might have an outstanding warrant for failure to appear. The front seat passenger, later identified as Shirah Hahn, gave the false name “Samantha Jones” and was arrested for providing a false name and date of birth. Upon checking Harris through GCIC, it was confirmed she had an outstanding failure to appear warrant through the Milledgeville Police Department.
Brown was charged with VGCSA possession of methamphetamine and driving while license suspended.
Driver confesses to drinking and driving On May 4, law enforcement was patrolling the area of South Wayne Street and East Greene Street when an officer observed a gray 2012 Infiniti G37 collide with the flowerpot barrier at the intersection at a high rate of speed.
The driver, Nicholas Serrano, and passenger, Valeria Paladines, stated that they didn’t need any medical attention and didn’t appear to be injured. Serrano was reportedly swaying, unsteady on his feet, and had bloodshot, watery eyes. When asked, Serrano stated that he was a little too drunk and driving. Serrano stated he consumed an alcoholic beverage approximately an hour ago prior to the accident. An officer conducted a standardized field sobriety evaluation and determined him unsafe to drive. After giving a breath sample on the alco-sensor, Serrano tested positive for alcohol at a 0.231. Serrano verbally and voluntarily agreed to take the state administered test of his breath. He blew a 0.266.
Serrano was cited for driving under the influence and failure to maintain lane.
Women arrested at Circle K
On May 4, law enforcement responded to Circle K, at 160 Highway 49, for a possible intoxicated driver. An individual observed two females drinking from a liquor bottle while sitting at the gas pump and called in the incident. The driver, later identified as Brittany Phelps, had the odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage coming from her breath, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and appeared to be half dressed. Phelps was very uncooperative using foul language and resisting eventual arrest. With minimal force the officers were able to guide Phelps to the ground in a controlled manner. Phelps refused to place her hands behind her back after she was on the ground. Phelps sustained injuries to her knee and fingers from the concrete. EMS was called for Phelps’ injuries. While an officer was near the vehicle, they could smell the odor of marijuana coming from within it.
A probable cause search was conducted, and they located a black bag with several cigar packs and a green, leafy substance suspected to be marijuana inside. The second female, Kiamber Sabrie Justice, stated the bag belonged to her and she was placed under arrest for possession of marijuana less than one ounce. Warrants for obstruction of a law enforcement officer, public indecency, disorderly conduct, and terroristic threats and acts were sworn for Brittany Phelps. Phelps also received two citations for DUI-refusal and open container.
Drunk driver fails to maintain lane
On May 4, an officer was traveling south in the 2400 block of North Columbia Street, when they observed a white 2021 Toyota Tacoma failing to maintain the proper lane of travel. The vehicle crossed over into the center turning lane in front of the Heritage Inn.
The driver maneuvered back into the inside lane of North Columbia Street but failed to maintain the proper lane of travel a second time, and the vehicle went into the center turn lane. The vehicle barely missed striking barriers in the center turn lane in front of the Milledgeville Mall, then traveled back into the inside lane. The vehicle approached the intersection of North Columbia Street and Roberson Mill Road and weaved into the turning lane for Dunlap Road. The vehicle went back into the proper lane of travel and stopped at the red light. The entire time as they were observing this vehicle, there was a gray Dodge Challenger behind the vehicle, which appeared to be staying close to the vehicle to block the officer from getting behind it.
The officer conducted a traffic stop in the parking lot of Aldi’s grocery store.
The driver, identified as Kanore McKinnon, smelled of a strong odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage. McKinnon stated he was going home from a party and had only consumed two beers, approximately one and a half hour before the stop. McKinnon refused a Standardized Field Sobriety Testing but agreed to a portable breath test. However, he called a “lawyer” on the phone and refused to hang up despite multiple commands to. He then began to state that this traffic stop was initiated because of his race, and so forth. Because of McKinnon’s driving behavior, and the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person, the officer believed him to be less safe to drive a motor vehicle. McKinnon also refused to submit a State administered chemical test of his breath.
He received citations for DUI-refusal and failure to maintain lane.