Cory Putman

Name:
Putman, Cory Tempest

Date of Booking:
12/17/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
Hit and Run; Duty of Driver to Stop or Return to Scene of Accident

Aggressive Driving

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 December 17, 2025, at approximately 0835 hours, I was dispatched to a hit and run that occurred at Atlanta Hwy NE and Parks Mills Rd. One of the callers was at 1158 Carl-Bethlehem at the Chevron gas station. I responded code 1 (routine response).

Once I arrived at the gas station, I met with one of the callers who was identified as Cory Putman. I spoke to Cory, and he stated that he was involved in an accident on Atlanta Hwy NE just passed the intersection of Parks Mills Rd. While speaking to Cory, he stated that he wasn’t going to call for the accident due to his being late for his job, but wanted to speak to an officer regarding the other driver having road rage. The other driver was later identified as [VICTIM #1].

While speaking to Cory, he stated that while he was driving the car behind him honked and seemed frustrated from the view of his rear mirror. Cory stated that he slowed, and when he did, [VICTIM #1] went to the median. Cory then stated that he thought [VICTIM #1] was going to pass him when she was in the median. Cory then sped up and tried to cut off [VICTIM #1], and by doing that, he sideswiped [VICTIM #1]’s vehicle on the passenger side. I observed the damage to Cody’s vehicle, and I observed the damage on the fender of the driver’s side.

Cory continued and stated that when he hit [VICTIM #1]’s car, he kept on driving to work and noticed [VICTIM #1] was following him. Cody stated that he was afraid that [VICTIM #1] would follow him to work, so he pulled over on Carl-Bethlehem Road. When both vehicles pulled over, Cory walked to [VICTIM #1]’s vehicle to speak to her. Cody stated that he went to [VICTIM #1]’s car to know what her issue was and saw that [VICTIM #1] was on the phone. When Cody realized she was on the phone and wasn’t paying attention to him, he went back into his car and drove off.

I asked Cory why he slowed down in front of [VICTIM #1] on Atlanta Hwy, and he stated that he was upset at her and wanted to annoy her. I asked Cory again regarding him preventing [VICTIM #1] from passing him, and he stated that he didn’t want [VICTIM #1] to pass him and again wanted to annoy her. Dispatch advised that [VICTIM #1] also called law enforcement and was waiting for me to meet with her about the accident. I asked dispatch if they could get [VICTIM #1] to meet me at the Chevron gas station, where I was speaking to Cory.

[VICTIM #1] arrived, and I spoke to her about the situation. [VICTIM #1] stated that she was on Parks Mill Road and got onto the median at Atlanta Hwy NE. [VICTIM #1] stated that she saw a car coming on the westbound lane, getting close to hitting her vehicle, so she honked at the vehicle. Once [VICTIM #1] honked at the vehicle, she merged into the eastbound lane on Atlanta Hwy NE.

While [VICTIM #1] was driving, the vehicle in front of her slammed on their brakes. The driver of the vehicle in front of her is Cory Putman. Once Cory slammed the brakes, [VICTIM #1] tried her best to avoid rear-ending Cory, so she went to the median. [VICTIM #1] then got back into the lane, and Cory again slammed on his brakes. [VICTIM #1] then again went onto the median, and while on the median, Cory left his lane and went into the median and sideswiped [VICTIM #1]. Once Cory hit [VICTIM #1], he drove off, and [VICTIM #1] followed him to get a license plate number. While [VICTIM #1] was following Cory, they both pulled over on the side of the road. [VICTIM #1] then stated that when she pulled over, she was on the phone with dispatch, and Cory walked up to the vehicle. [VICTIM #1] then stated that Cory said, “Come on, let’s go”. While [VICTIM #1] was on the phone, Cory walked back to his car and drove off.

I observed the damage to [VICTIM #1]’s vehicle, and it matches what both parties had described to me. Once I finished gathering [VICTIM #1]’s information, I went back to Cory’s vehicle to speak to him again. I asked Cory why didn’t he pull over when they both collided, and he stated that he was trying to get back to work and was afraid that [VICTIM #1] would follow him. I asked Cory again when both parties pulled over, why didn’t he call law enforcement or stay at the scene where both parties were at? Cory continued saying that he was trying to get to work. I asked Cory again why he slammed on his brakes and merged into the median where [VICTIM #1] was. Cory denied slamming on his brakes but stated that he “slowed down”. Cory advised that he slowed down and got into the median to annoy her since she honked the horn at him. Cory also stated that he was thinking that [VICTIM #1] was trying to pass him, so he tried cutting [VICTIM #1] off. Cory later stated that [VICTIM #1] initially almost hit him first when she got into the median, and that frustrated him.

During my investigation, I have developed enough probable cause to take Cory into custody. I told Cory to put his hands behind his back. I handcuffed Cory behind his back and made sure they were double locked. I searched Cory for an incident to arrest; no drugs were found, and Cory had a couple of pocket knives, but they were turned over to his girlfriend, who arrived at the scene before I took Cory into custody. Cory’s girlfriend is identified as [REDACTED]. Cory advised me to give [REDACTED] his phone and his pocketknives. Cory also allowed [REDACTED] to take possession of the vehicle. [REDACTED] stated that she was going to leave the vehicle in the parking lot of the Chevron gas station, and Cory was aware of it.

I put Cory in the back of my patrol car and transported him to the Barrow County Detention Center. Once I arrived, I turned Cory over to the jail staff without any issue. I checked the back of my patrol car, and no contraband was found.

Cory was arrested and cited for:

Hit and Run; duty of driver to stop at or return to the scene of the accident, OCGA (40-6-270). Cory failed to stop or return to the scene of the accident. Cory didn’t pull over immediately when the accident happened, but instead fled. Once both parties pulled over safely without any hazard, Cory didn’t attempt to call law enforcement or stay at the scene when both drivers pulled over.

Aggressive Driving OCGA (40-6-397). Cory admitted to intentionally braking to annoy [VICTIM #1], which almost caused an accident. Cory also admitted to intentionally merging into the median to prevent [VICTIM #1] from passing her, which caused an accident when he sideswiped her.

[End of Narrative]