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Name:
Fokuo, Jacob Adu King
Date of Booking:
02/08/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Willful Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers-Misdemeanor
Hit and Run with (nonserious) injury and/or damage
Improper Lane Change/Failure to Maintain Lane
Speeding
Speeding
Driving without a Valid License (Misdemeanor)
Reckless Driving
Fleeing/Attempting to Elude Police
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 February 08, 2026]
On 2/8/2026, at approximately 0340 hours, Deputy Simmons attempted to stop a speeding vehicle on University Parkway, near the intersection of Loganville Highway. I was directly behind Deputy Simmons when he attempted to initiate the traffic stop.
When Deputy Simmons initiated his emergency equipment, the vehicle began to flee, beginning a vehicle pursuit as the vehicle turned north on Carl-Bethlehem Road. I advised dispatch that I was the secondary unit and that we were in a vehicle pursuit. I advised of road and weather conditions and that our speeds were approximately 120 MPH. a few moments later, the vehicle crashed into multiple telephone poles.
As I was approaching the vehicle, the driver of the vehicle jumped out and began running on foot. Deputy Simmons began pursuing the suspect on foot. I then made contact with the passenger of the vehicle, later identified as Jayson Zenil, and began giving him commands. Jayson was placed into handcuffs and frisked for weapons.
A few moments later, a med unit arrived to check on Jayson. Jayson stated to me that he was asleep in the passenger seat and that a friend of his named “Jay” was driving. He did not know his last name. he said that he was a black male that he went to school with. While speaking with Jayson, I smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. His speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot and watery. After Jayson was checked out by the med unit. I asked him to provide a breath sample into a PBT and he refused. I explained to him that he was under arrest for underage consumption of alcohol. Jayson was then transported to NGHS Barrow by Deputy Hill to be checked for his injuries.
I went to the suspect vehicle and located 2 phones inside of the car. The phone that was in the driver’s side floorboard was in the iphone crash detection mode. I asked dispatch if they had received a crash detection notification and they stated that they did. They then provided me with the cell phone number that had contacted them.
I began running the phone number through the computer system and was able to locate a previous incident that the phone number was associated with, with the help of Officer Pierce of the Winder Police Department. Officer Pierce and other units went to a residence in Winder that was associated with the phone number. They made contact with the parents of Jacob Fokuo, who stated that the cell phone number was his. They were able to confirm that the number associated with the phone that was in the crash detection mode was Jacob’s phone. With this information we were able to positively identify the fleeing suspect as Jacob Fokuo.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on February 08, 2026]
On February 8, 2026, at approximately 1111 hours, I was dispatched to a warrant service for Jacob Fokuo at [100 BLOCK] S Broad Street for multiple counts of Felony and Misdemeanor warrants out of Barrow County. I responded code 1 (routine response).
Once I arrived at the residence, I saw a black male individual exiting the residence. The male individual walked towards Deputy Bond (S-171) and identified himself as Jacob Fokuo. I handcuffed Jacob’s hands behind his back, making sure they were properly fitted and double locked. I had dispatch confirm the warrants for Jacob, and they were valid. I walked Jacob to my patrol car and searched him for an incident to arrest. I did not locate any weapons or drugs on him. I secured Jacob in the back of my patrol car and transported him to Northeast Georgia Hospital in Barrow County.
Jacob was involved in a motor vehicle accident in the early morning and needed to be medically cleared before the detention center could accept him. Once I transported Jacob to the hospital, and a few hours later, they cleared him. I was with Jacob the whole time, so I walked him to my patrol car and then secured him in the backseat. I transported Jacob to the Barrow County Detention Center and turned him over to the jail staff without any issues. I served Jacob with eight felony and misdemeanor warrants. I checked the backseat of my patrol car, and no contraband was located.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #3 on February 08, 2026]
On February 8, 2026, I was sitting in the gore on University Parkway at Harry McCarty Road. While watching traffic, I visually estimated a vehicle to be westbound at a speed of 105mph in a posted 65mph zone. I activated my Stalker DSR2X radar and received a loud Doppler tone, indicating a strong lock. I observed a speed of 107mph in a posted 65mph zone.
I left the gore and switched my radar to moving mode, same direction. After I reached 120mph, I realized that I was not gaining on the vehicle. I activated my lights and siren and notified dispatch that I was trying to catch up to the car. We continued west on University Parkway before turning right on Carl-Bethlehem Road and proceeding north.
After the vehicle turned right onto Carl-Bethlehem Road,I heard it accelerate. Due to the exhaust system on the car, I was able to determine that the car was fleeing from me. I notified dispatch that
I was in a vehicle pursuit.
While driving north on Carl-Bethlehem Road,I reached a speed of 110mph and still did not gain on the vehicle. We continued toward Englewood Road. As I was coming up to the curve before Englewood Road,I saw a large amount of sparks in the sky, which usually happens when a transformer blows. As I came around the curve, I observed the vehicle on the shoulder. The vehicle ran through two power poles. While I was trying to stop my patrol car, I drove through two sets of active power lines, which caused minor damage to the top of my patrol car.
Once I was away from the active power lines, I exited my patrol car and advanced to the vehicle. The vehicle was identified as a 2018 Volkswagen GTI bearing GA tag: [REDACTED]. Because every airbag was deployed in the car, including the window screen airbags, I was unable to see inside the car. I began giving verbal commands to the occupants inside the Volkswagen. The driver’s side door opened, and a black male, later identified as Jacob Fokuo, got out of the driver’s side door with his hands up and proceeded to lie on the ground. While I was holding Jacob at gunpoint, a passenger, later identified as Jayson Zenil, got out of the passenger side of the door. Due to Jacob not currently posing a threat with both of his hands visible,I diverted my attention to Jayson.
While looking between Jayson and Jacob, Jacob began to push himself up off the ground. I gave him verbal commands to get back on the ground while maintaining contact with Jayson and giving him verbal commands to get on the ground. Jacob proceeded to stand up and take off on foot. I yelled for him to stop, but he refused to do so. I pursued Jacob on foot behind a residence before he jumped a fence, and I lost sight of him.
I called for Corporal Perrin to come assist in a track to locate Jacob. Jacob was not located on the dog track.
Jayson was placed under arrest for Furnishing, Purchasing of alcoholic beverages by persons below legal age (OCGA 3-3-23). Jayson is 18 years old, making him younger than the legal age to consume alcohol. I read Jayson his Miranda Rights, but his story made no sense and was irrelevant to whatI was investigating.
The Georgia State Patrol worked two separate accidents for the pursuit. GSP accident number for my patrol car: C001043669. GSP accident number for the Volkswagen: C001055394.
I spoke with Jacob’s parents on the phone and advised them of what happened, and if they found him or heard from him, to let the Sheriff’s Office know, as he will have felony warrants.
Sometime during the same day, Jacob’s dad called 911 and advised that his son was back at the house. Jacob was taken into custody by the responding Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Warrants were obtained on Jacob for Fleeing (OCGA 40-6-395), Reckless Driving (OCGA 40-6-390), Driving without a valid license (OCGA 40-5-20), Speeding (OCGA 40-6-181) – two counts, Failure to maintain lane (OCGA 40-6-48), Hit and Run (OCGA 40-6-270), and Obstruction of Law enforcement (OCGA 16-10-24).
The Volkswagen was totaled. Mike’s Auto took possession of the Volkswagen.
[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:
4/14/26
GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT — 16 COUNTS FILED AGAINST JACOB ADUKING FOKUO
What this means: A Barrow County grand jury formally charged Jacob Aduking Fokuo, also known as “Jay,” with 16 criminal counts stemming from events that allegedly occurred on February 8, 2026. The indictment was filed in the Superior Court of Barrow County under Case No. 26-CR-135-G, with District Attorney J. Bradley Smith signing each count. The grand jury’s decision to indict means that enough evidence was presented to move the case forward to trial — it is not a finding of guilt. Here is what Jacob Aduking Fokuo is accused of in each count:
Count 1 — Driving Without a License: Fokuo is accused of operating a Volkswagen motor vehicle on Highway 316 without a valid driver’s license, in violation of O.C.G.A. 40-5-20.
Count 2 — Speeding: Fokuo is accused of driving that same Volkswagen at 107 miles per hour on Highway 316, where the posted speed limit was 65 miles per hour, in violation of O.C.G.A. 40-6-181, 40-6-182, and 40-6-183.
Counts 3–10 — Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer (Eight Counts): Fokuo is accused of willfully failing to stop for officers Dylan Simmons and Stephen Kinney after being given audible and/or visual signals (siren and emergency lights) while driving in excess of the posted speed limit on Highway 316 and Carl-Bethlehem Road. Four of these counts (Counts 3–4 and 5–6) involve the initial failure to stop on each roadway. Two additional counts (Counts 7–8) allege that while fleeing, Fokuo left the roadway and struck a utility pole, making the evasion the proximate cause of an accident. Two more counts (Counts 9–10) allege that while fleeing, Fokuo was simultaneously committing reckless driving. Each count names either officer Dylan Simmons or officer Stephen Kinney as the officer whose signal was ignored, in violation of O.C.G.A. 40-6-395(a).
Count 11 — Reckless Driving: Fokuo is accused of driving a Volkswagen motor vehicle in a reckless manner in reckless disregard of the safety of persons and property on Carl-Bethlehem Road, in violation of O.C.G.A. 40-6-390.
Count 12 — Speeding: Fokuo is accused of driving a Volkswagen in excess of 65 miles per hour on Carl-Bethlehem Road, a two-lane road with a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour, in violation of O.C.G.A. 40-6-181, 40-6-182, and 40-6-183.
Count 13 — Failure to Maintain Lane: While operating a vehicle on Carl-Bethlehem Road, a road divided into clearly marked lanes, Fokuo is accused of failing to drive as nearly as practicable within a single traffic lane and moving from that lane without first determining it was safe to do so, in violation of O.C.G.A. 40-6-48.
Count 14 — Violation of Duty Upon Striking Fixed Object: After allegedly being involved in an accident that caused damage to a utility pole — property of Jackson EMC, a fixture legally adjacent to a highway — Fokuo is accused of failing to take reasonable steps to locate and notify the owner and failing to provide his name, address, or vehicle registration number, in violation of O.C.G.A. 40-6-272.
Count 15 — Failure to Report Accident: After allegedly being involved in an accident resulting in property damage of $500.00 or more, Fokuo is accused of failing to report the accident by the quickest means of communication to local police, the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, or the nearest Georgia State Patrol office, in violation of O.C.G.A. 40-6-273.
Count 16 — Obstruction of an Officer: Fokuo is accused of knowingly and willfully obstructing officer Dylan Simmons of the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office — a law enforcement officer in the lawful discharge of his duties — by fleeing on foot while he was a suspect in an active on-scene criminal investigation, in violation of O.C.G.A. 16-10-24(a).
5/27/26
DEFENSE COUNSEL FILES CONSOLIDATED MOTIONS AND DEMANDS — ATTORNEY SUMI KASSE
What this means: Defense attorney Sumi Kasse filed a set of consolidated motions and demands on behalf of Jacob Aduking Fokuo in the Superior Court of Barrow County, Case No. 26-CR-
5/27/26
STATE FILES DISCOVERY RESPONSE — CASE NO. 26-CR-135-G
What this means: The Barrow County District Attorney’s Office, representing the State of Georgia, filed a formal response to Jacob Aduking Fokuo’s election to proceed under Georgia’s discovery statute, O.C.G.A. 17-16-1 et seq. This document was filed in the Superior Court of Barrow County on May 27, 2026. Under Georgia law, when a defendant formally requests discovery — meaning they ask the prosecution to share evidence — the state is required to respond. This filing confirms the state’s acknowledgment of that request and outlines what materials are being made available through Tracker Electronic Discovery and what is available for review or inspection at the District Attorney’s Office. The state also issued its own reciprocal demands, requiring Jacob Aduking Fokuo to make available any evidence, witness statements, scientific test results, or other materials the defense intends to use at trial.