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Name:
Shaw, Benjamin William
Date of Booking:
08/05/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL
FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE
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 August 5, 2026, Deputy Motes was in the area of Highway 441 at the north end of Historic Homer Highway. Deputy Motes observed a white in color Jeep Wrangler (V1) approach the stop sign on Historic Homer Highway and come to a stop. Deputy Motes then saw V1 make a left-hand turn onto Highway 441 northbound. As V1 made the left-hand turn, V1 did not maintain the left-hand lane on Highway 441 and immediately merged into the right-hand lane on Highway 441. At this time, Deputy Motes pulled out behind V1 and conducted a traffic stop on V1 on Highway 441 at Free Dr.
Deputy Motes approached the front driver side of V1 and made contact with the driver (Benjamin). Deputy Motes explained the reason for the traffic stop and as he spoke with Benjamin, Deputy Motes smelled the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from Benjamins breath. Deputy Motes also observed Benjamin spoke in a slurred manner and has glossy eyes. Deputy Motes asked Benjamin when the last time he drank was to which he stated he drank on the previous night. Deputy Motes asked Benjamin to exit V1 to which he complied.
Deputy Motes asked Benjamin if he would submit to Standardized Field Sobriety Testing to which he agreed to do so. Deputy Motes saw Benjamin was wearing eye glasses and asked him to remove them to which he did. Deputy Motes confirmed with Benjamin they are prescription glasses and he does not wear contact lenses. Deputy Motes asked Benjamin if he has any head injuries to which he stated he fell and hit his head approximately one month ago but does not believe it has caused any lasting issues.
Deputy Motes asked Benjamin if he has back or leg injuries to which he stated he has numerous issues with his back and legs. Deputy Motes checked Benjamins pupils for equal tracking IVN and equal pupil size to which he had both. Deputy Motes conducted the HGN evaluation and observed 6 of 6 clues with no vertical HGN. Deputy Motes asked Benjamin if he could perform the Walk and Turn and One Leg Stand evaluations to which he stated he could not due to his injuries.
Based on Deputy Motes’ observations, Deputy Motes placed Benjamin under arrest, handcuffed him behind the back, checked the handcuffs for proper-fit, and double-locked the handcuffs. Due to Deputy Motes’ Geogia Implied Consent card being damaged, Deputy Frey arrived on scene and provided Deputy Motes with his Georgia Implied Consent card. Deputy Motes read Benjamin the Georgia Implied Consent to which he verbally agreed.
Deputy Motes transported Benjamin to Commerce Urgent Care where a blood draw was completed by [REDACTED BY AGENCY] then sealed the blood draw in a blood draw kit provided to him by Deputy Motes and turned the sealed kit over to Deputy Motes. Deputy Motes transported Benjamin to Banks County Jail where he was turned over to jail staff with no further incident.
Corporal Pressley remained on scene with V1. Next-list wrecker was called for V1. Curts arrived on scene and took possession of V1. Tow log completed.
Citations issued.
[End of Narrative]