Kelly Lightsey

Name:
Lightsey, Kelly Oneal

Date of Booking:
03/16/2023

Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS

ENDANGERING A CHILD BY DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS

POSSESSION AND USE OF DRUG RELATED OBJECTS

POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On 03/16/2023, I was working an off duty detail at John Milledge Academy. I was notified by school staff that a parent, Kelly Lightsey, picks up her child daily smelling of Marijuana and appearing intoxicated. School staff stated they were concerned about the child’s welfare. At the end of the school day, School staff called me and advised that Kelly had just picked up her child and the vehicle again smelled like Marijuana. I observed Kelly leaving the parking lot with her child. I followed the vehicle into the Jet 69 Parking lot at 2783 N Columbia Street.

I observed Kelly make a left turn (South) out of the parking lot utilizing the left only turn lane as a merging lane. This caused other traffic traveling on North Columbia Street to not be able to properly utilize the lane. I cleared traffic and then began attempting to catch up with the vehicle to conduct a traffic stop. As I was catching up with the vehicle, I observed the vehicle move from the left “fast” lane into the right lane in moderate to heavy traffic without using a turn signal. I initiated my blue lights and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle in the area of North Columbia Street and Heritage Road.

I approached the vehicle and advised the driver why she was stopped. The driver identified herself by her Georgia Driver’s License as Kelly Lightsey. I also observed a young child, later identified as Lightsey’s five year old son, in the rear seat of the vehicle. While speaking with the driver, I detected the odor of marijuana coming from within the vehicle. I returned to my patrol car to check the driver’s information, request an additional unit and issue warnings for the above offenses related to the original reason for the traffic stop. I approached the vehicle again and questioned Kelly about the odor of Marijuana. Kelly stated her step-son used the vehicle last night and that may be why I was smelling Marijuana.

I asked Kelly for consent to search her vehicle and Kelly provided me with verbal consent to search. Once additional units arrived on scene, I began a probable cause search of the vehicle based off the odor of marijuana and a consent search of the vehicle provided by the driver.

In the driver’s door, I located a Marijuana blunt and two marijuana roaches with purple lipstick on the ends. I observed the driver to be wearing purple lipstick at the time. In between the driver’s seat and the middle front seat, directly beside the driver, I located a clear plastic bag containing a crystal like substance believed to be Methamphetamine. I asked the driver about the illegal items and she broke down crying and denied any knowledge of the items. Due to a small child in the car, I advised Kelly she was under arrest, however if she would remain cooperative I would allow her to call someone to pick up her son and then formally arrest her.

I continued my search of the vehicle by checking Kelly’s purse. In the side pocket of Kelly’s purse beside a pack of cigarettes, I located a glass pipe smoking device. Inside of the glass pipe was a burned crystal substance consisted with burned Methamphetamine. On the tip of the glass pipe was purple lipstick. I further located two (2) grinders containing Marijuana residue, multiple “hemp” wrapping papers, three (3) torch lighters, and a bag containing a green leafy substance consisted with Marijuana. The crystal like substance field tested positive for Methamphetamine.

Kelly’s husband, [REDACTED], arrived on scene and took custody of their son. [REDACTED] advised me that Kelly has been known to use Drugs and he thought she had gotten clean. When [REDACTED] went to give Kelly he a hug, he informed her she needed to get her act together. Kelly requested I lock her car and leave it in the parking lot of the IHOP. I advised Kelly that I could not promise I-Hop would not tow the vehicle for it being left on private property. I took Kelly into custody without incident and transported her to the Baldwin County Jail.

[End of Narrative]