Matthew Turner

Name:
Turner, Matthew

Date of Booking:
08/03/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
HIT AND RUN

LAYING DRAG

RECKLESS DRIVING

DUI – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL

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.]

[NARRATIVE #1 on June 20, 2026]

On 06/20/2026, I, Deputy Lunsford at approximately 00:25 was dispatched to 20983 Highway 441 (Walmart) in reference to an MVA no injuries. While in route to the call dispatch notified Deputies that the caller stated the vehicle that hit their vehicle had not crashed into the car charging stated as he attempted to do a donut.

On scene Deputies could see a red car baring GA Tag [REDACTED BY AGENCY] sitting in front of the car charging station area with significate front end damage to the vehicle. Inside the Deputies could see a white male wearing a blue jean jacket and blue jeans in the passenger seat (the offender). Deputy Lunsford then began asking other people on scene who was driving the vehicle, and they pointed to the male in the passenger seat. Deputy Lunsford the walked around the vehicle to the passenger side and asked the male (Matthew Turner) If he was driving the car.

This is when Deputies could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the male. The male also had blood shot watery eyes and slurred speech. The male stated yes when Deputy Lunsford asked if he was driving. Deputy Lunsford then asked the male to step out of the vehicle and placed his hands behind his back. Deputy Lunsford then placed the male into handcuffs, checked for fit, and double locked them.

The male was then searched incident to arrest and placed in the rear of Deputy Lunsford patrol car. The offender spontaneously uttered that he was at a party to Deputy Lunsford and also admitted under Marinda to SSGT Haack that he consumed 3 or 4 shots of crown royal liquor. While the offender was being checked out by EMS he stated to them that he was “Fu*ked Up”. He also stated something along the lines of I’m way to fu*ked up for my standard.

Deputy Lunsford then met with the individuals that were in the car the offender hit [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and asked them what happened. They stated they were sitting in the car, and the offender was parked near then inside the parking lot. They started the offender then backed up towards their vehicle hitting in on the front passenger side bumper. This is when the offender then drove off from the accident. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] then ran after the offender car on foot telling him to stop and that he hit his car. The offender then turned around doing a burn out. This is when the offender then drove into the car charging station.

There was another witness in the parking lot when the incident occurred [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. She stated that she seen the offender car parked in the parking lot and then it backed into [REDACTED BY AGENCY] car. She then stated the offender’s vehicle started to drive away. This is when she saw the offender’s vehicle make a sharp turn. Deputy Lunsford asked her if when the vehicle made this turn could she see smoke or hear the tires. She stated yes, she could hear the tires. She then stated the offender’s vehicle ran into the charging station.

Around the scene you could see multiple alcoholic beverages lying on the ground. The cans still had condensation on them due to being cold. There were also black tire marks on the asphalt that line up with the path that all witnesses stated the offender car when. The tire marks also matched up to where the offender vehicle was after the incident.

Deputy Lunsford collected all information for a report from the parties on scene. Deputy Lunsford provided [REDACTED BY AGENCY] with a case number for the report and gave him instructions on how to obtain it. Deputy Lunsford was unable to get any information in reference to the owner of the car charging station. A Walmart employee showed up and is going to provide Deputy Lunsford with the information about the owner of the car charging station at a later date.

Due to the offender complaining of head pain EMS responded. Once on scene the offender wished to go to the hospital. The offender was removed out of handcuffs and handed over to EMS. Deputy Lunsford informed the offender that he would have warrants and would need to turn himself in at the Banks County Sheriff’s Office. Seymour’s responded and took possession of the offender vehicle. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] vehicle was able to be driven. The damage to the charging station consisted of a broken door and fence along with damage to some electronics on the inside of the gate.

Deputy Lunsford was able to obtain video surveillance footage of the incident that was uploaded to Axon under the case number.

Warrant will be obtained for Driving Under the Influence, Hit and Run, Reckless Driving, and Laying Drag.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on June 21, 2026]

On 06/21/2026, I, Deputy Lunsford at approximately 23:57 was dispatched to 30983 Highway 441 (Walmart) in reference to a follow up from a incident that occurred on 06/20/2026.

On scene Deputy Lunsford met with a sub-contractor [REDACTED BY AGENCY] that works for Pearce Reenables that is sub-contracted by the owner of the charging station (Electrified America) the offender damaged. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that his company needs a case number for the report due to the damage to the charging station. Deputy Lunsford asked [REDACTED BY AGENCY] how much he thought the damage would cost to fix the charging station. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that due to the box the offender hit being the main power supply that it would cost around $100,000 to $250,000 to fix.

Deputy Lunsford collected all information needed from [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and provided him with a case number and gave him instructions on how to obtain the report. If contact needs to be made with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] he can be reached at [REDACTED BY AGENCY].

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #3 on August 03, 2026]

On 08-03-2026 at 10:45 AM Deputy Lewis responded to 1677 Scenic Drive in Toccoa, GA. 30577 (Stephens County Sheriffs Office) reference to picking up one male inmate. Upon arrival Deputy Lewis met with jail staff reference to the inmate transport. Deputy Lewis made contact with offender one and placed offender one into leg iron and cuff combo. Deputy Lewis checked for proper fit and double locked the leg iron and cuff combo.

Deputy Lewis walked offender one out to Deputy Lewis patrol vehicle parked in the sally port and placed offender one into the passenger side back seat and seat belted offender one in. Deputy Lewis transported offender one to 160 Windmill Farm Road Homer, GA. 30547 (Banks County Sheriffs office) on warrant numbers CR-26-0528, CR-26-0529, CR-26-0530, and CR-26-0531. Upon arrival at Banks County Sheriffs Office, Deputy Lewis turned offender one over to jail staff without any problems.

Deputy Lewis checked the back seat area if his patrol vehicle for any items left by offender one. Deputy Lewis did not locate any items in the back seat area left by offender one.

[End of Narrative]