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Name:
Spence, Cedric Taft
Date of Booking:
05/10/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Consumption/Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in Passenger Area
Improper Lane Change/Failure to Maintain Lane
No Insurance
DUI-Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (less safe)
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 May 09, 2026]
On 05/09/2026 while on routine patrol in my marked patrol vehicle, I responded emergency lights and audible siren, to an accident with unknown injuries, at HWY 211 NW and Old Hog Mountain Rd. in Barrow County, GA. Dispatch advised that a third party (passerby), advised a black in color vehicle had wrecked and was in a ditch, single vehicle, but unable to see if anyone was injured. I arrived on scene and witnessed a Med Unit was already on scene in the roundabout, and the vehicle was resting on the roundabout.
It appeared the vehicle had gone straight into the roundabout intersection, mounting the curb and driving across the center of the roundabout, destroying the undercarriage of the vehicle. There was oil spilling out from under the vehicle and the driver wheel was broken. The vehicle had narrowly missed the trees in the center of the roundabout, and after further investigation appeared it never slowed down or braked, hitting the concrete island before the roundabout then driving across it, ending up disabled on the other side.
I made contact with the Med Unit, and one of the EMS personnel advised the male had been somewhat “out of it” and “agitated” with them as they rolled up on it, while en route to another call. The female told me her and the other female EMS personnel were concerned with how agitated he was trying to provide him aide. I looked in the vehicle with my flashlight and witnessed a bottle of Svedka vodka, laying in the floor of the driver seat near the pedals, with fluid still inside.
I stepped inside the med unit and witnessed the male sitting down being evaluated, having a laceration high on the bridge of his nose (possibly from hitting the steering wheel), and when I asked him what happened, he responded like he too was trying to figure that out. The male was later identified as Mr. Cedric Spence, being the registered owner of the wrecked vehicle, a black in color Volkswagen GTI. I asked how his vehicle ended up there and Cedric began stating he might not have been familiar with the roundabout but was slurring his words and his eyes were glassy, heavy and bloodshot.
I asked Cedric where he was from and he stated Fairburn, GA, but when asked where he was headed to he also stated “Fairburn”, and after most questions would give a look of confused and disdain.I asked where he had come from, to be going to Fairburn and he replied, “ummm prolly from Fulton City”. Cedric stated he had just got food, and I could see it in the vehicle if I wanted, I did not recall seeing any food at any time inside his vehicle during this incident. When asked where he got food from he again appeared confused and said, “A town soul food”. Cedric then asked me if I understood that he got food in “Fulton County”.
Cedric appeared to be extremely intoxicated but at this time I could not smell the odor of alcoholic beverage inside the med unit. I asked Cedric if he knew what city he was in, or even what county he was in, which I had already provided both, but he kept stating “roundabout” and advised “College Park”. I asked Cedric if he had any other injuries than the cut to his nose, he stated no. I asked some screener questions for a field sobriety investigation, including medicines he takes, which he stated he took [REDACTED BY AGENCY] medicine. Cedric [REDACTED BY AGENCY], almost to the point that if it did not come down the med unit would have to transport him. Cedric was still slurring words when speaking, and sounding like he had rocks in his mouth. I asked Cedric if he used any illegal drugs and he stated no.
I asked if he drank any alcoholic beverages today and it sounded like he stated “middle of the day” but it was so slurred and mush mouthed that I could barely understand it. I asked if he remembered specifically how long ago like hours and he stated, “I don’t know”. I asked what he was drinking, whether it was liquor or beer, Cedric responded, “I guess it was liquor”. I asked what kind and he advised he didn’t know, but when asked specifically several types he stated “vodka”. Cedric basically asked if I wanted to test him, which I stated yes, as he continued to slur his words and seemed confused about nearly everything. EMS stated they needed to get some more vitals first before allowing him outside the med unit with me. I did asked if the vehicle was registered to him and he stated yes, that it was in his name.
Cedric started asking if I can check the other tags before him, which I had no idea what he was talking about. There was a statement made at one point like he was trying to get away from someone or someone was maybe after him, so I asked dispatch to check with GSP and surrounding agencies in case he fled from one of them, but no agencies in the area advised they had pursued anyone. Dep. Wilkins did run the tag on Cedric’s vehicle which returned with no valid insurance and suspended registration. Dep. Wilkins did advise he would complete the accident portion of this incident.
I collected pictures from him and of the open container later, which have been attached with this report. One of the females from the med unit spoke to me expressing concerns for Cedric state, which I advised that due to the odor not being present, as it would be for someone this intoxicated, that he may have been drinking straight vodka, which has little to no odor.
When I had Cedric exit the med unit, one of the EMS personnel pointed out Cedric had something in his waistband. I was able to find and remove a loaded pistol from a concealed holster in Cedric’s waistband. This was a FN 509 9mm pistol, which was checked for being stolen, it was not, and was then kept for the rest of this incident. The firearm was ultimately kept for safekeeping at the completion of the incident, being placed in an evidence locker at BCSO evidence room. I walked Cedric over to the roundabout and attempted to conduct SFST, but he would not listen to instructions at all, and would not follow the stimuli for HGN testing. I attempted passes and Cedric would stair at me. When asked for him to look at the stimuli he would tell me he was, but he was staring straight at me. I felt that due to his level of intoxication, which I could now smell the odor of alcoholic beverage in such close proximity, he was not safe to be put through the testing and would not follow instructions either.
I retrieved my hand held alco-sensor from the approved GBI list and explained how to provide a sample. Cedric provided a sample which showed a positive result for the presence of alcohol, and a reading of BrAC 0.336, which was so high that he would have to be medically cleared at the hospital prior to going to jail. Cedric did at one point tell me that the hand held alco-sensor machine was “counterfeit”. With the accident being a complete lack of awareness due to intoxication, and no signs of attempting to stop (via skid marks), he was lucky to not have been seriously injured or killed. With his inability to understand almost anything, his slurring of word, odor of alcoholic beverage, admission to drinking the same liquor found in the vehicle, and swaying around when standing, it was clear he was DUI.
I placed Cedric in handcuffs, behind his back, checked them for fit and double locked them. I advised Cedric he was under arrest for DUI. I searched him incident to arrest for weapons or contraband and seated him in my patrol vehicle. I read Cedric the Georgia Implied Consent Notice Suspects Age 21 or Over, word for word, from an official green in color card, and asked for “blood”. I had to read it again as he was confused and wanted to argue that he already provided testing. Cedric refused Implied Consent for blood.
I conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle due to the open container in plain view and incident to arrest for DUI. The bottle on the floor where his feet would have been still had a decent amount of liquid inside, and there was another matching bottle in the small bag on the passenger floor. It did appear he was drinking this straight with no flavor, mixer, or chaser, which was why the odor was so faint. The fact the bottle was on the floor near his feet meant it had to have been loose in the vehicle, possibly in his lap or the cup holder. It was not determined if he was actively drinking while driving, but he was not paying attention to the roadway as he ran straight across the concrete curb and roundabout.
The vehicle was picked up by Myle’s Wrecker service. I buckled Cedric’s seat belt and transported him to NEG Barrow for medical clearance, prior to the jail. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Cedric asked about his charges while there and when I mentioned no insurance, he admitted to knowing the vehicle had no insurance.
I transported Cedric to Barrow County Detention Center after he was medically cleared. Cedric was served the DDS 1205 form for the refusal to Implied Consent, provided a copy, but his license was not collected as it was not found with him. Cedric was turned over to jail staff and issued four citations for; DUI Alcohol Less Safe, No Insurance, Failure to Maintain Lane and Open Container. The back seat of my patrol vehicle was checked prior to and after transport for weapons or contraband, nothing was found.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on May 09, 2026]
V1 was traveling South on Hwy 211 NW, at the round-a-bout with Old Hog Mountain Rd when it continued straight, striking a concrete island, then continued straight further, entering the concrete island of the round-a-bout, driving through it, and coming to rest on the south side of the concrete island.
V1 sustained disabling damage to the front end and under carriage and was removed from the scene by Myle’s Wrecker service. D1 had a visible cut on the bridge of his nose but was so intoxicated he could not articulate what injuries he had. He was tended to by the responding medical personnel but refused transportation.
D1 was subsequently arrested and cited with the following citations:
142357 DUI Less Safe
142358 No Insurance
142359 Failure to Maintain Lane
142360 Open Container
See case report for additional details.
[End of Narrative]
All information is sourced directly from the official, public court database. Case history is organized and curated by The Georgia Gazette staff. The “What this means:” explanations are written by AI and reviewed by our staff before publishing.
Court records are subject to change at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors or omissions. Nothing here is legal advice. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Case History:
5/10/26
CEDRIC TAFT SPENCE ARRESTED AND BOOKED — BARROW COUNTY
What this means: Cedric Taft Spence was booked into custody in Barrow County on May 10, 2026. Spence is accused of four offenses: DUI — Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (less safe), Improper Lane Change/Failure to Maintain Lane, Consumption/Open Container of an Alcoholic Beverage in the Passenger Area, and No Insurance. These are the charges that form the basis of Case No. 26-ST-598 in the State Court of Barrow County. At this stage, these are accusations only — Cedric Taft Spence is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
6/11/26
ACCUSATION FILED — 5 COUNTS CHARGED AGAINST CEDRIC TAFT SPENCE IN BARROW COUNTY STATE COURT
What this means: On June 11, 2026, Chief Assistant Solicitor-General Kristen L. Murphy filed a formal accusation — the official charging document — against Cedric Taft Spence in the State Court of Barrow County, Case No. 26-ST-00598. An accusation is how the State formally puts charges on the record in State Court without going through a grand jury. Cedric Taft Spence is accused of five counts:
Count 1 — DUI: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (Less Safe), under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391(A)(1). This means Spence is accused of operating a vehicle while alcohol allegedly made him a less safe driver.
Count 2 — Driving on Suspended, Canceled, or Revoked Registration, under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-15. This means Spence is accused of driving a vehicle whose registration was not legally valid at the time.
Count 3 — Operating a Vehicle Without Insurance, under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-10(B). This means Spence is accused of driving without the required minimum insurance coverage.
Count 4 — Driving the Wrong Way on a Rotary Traffic Island, under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-47(C). This means Spence is accused of navigating a roundabout or traffic circle in the wrong direction.
Count 5 — Open Container, under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-253. This means Spence is accused of having an open alcoholic beverage container in the passenger area of a vehicle.
All five counts are accusations only. Cedric Taft Spence is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
6/12/26
DEFENSE FILES MOTION FOR DISCOVERY — CEDRIC TAFT SPENCE
What this means: Also on June 12, 2026, defense attorney Ari Williams filed a Motion for Discovery, Inspection, and Production in Case No. 26-ST-598 in the State Court of Barrow County. This motion formally requests that the prosecution turn over all evidence in its possession that could be relevant to Cedric Taft Spence’s case — including any evidence that might support his innocence, any scientific test results, witness statements, police reports, and any information considered favorable to the defense. The motion also requests a pre-trial hearing to evaluate the admissibility of any expert testimony the State plans to use. This is a standard defense step that requires the prosecution to share its evidence before trial.
6/12/26
CEDRIC TAFT SPENCE FILES WAIVER OF ARRAIGNMENT — ENTERS NOT GUILTY PLEA
What this means: Through his attorney, Ari Williams, Cedric Taft Spence waived his right to appear in person at his arraignment — the formal court hearing where charges are read aloud and a defendant enters a plea. By filing this waiver in the State Court of Barrow County, Spence entered a plea of Not Guilty on the record without needing to be physically present in the courtroom. This is a routine procedural step and does not affect the charges against him.