Jose Gonzalez Garcia

Name:
Gonzalez Garcia, Jose

Date of Booking:
11/03/2025

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

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 Sunday, November 2, 2025, at approximately 2304 hours, I was dispatched to a hit-and-run vehicle crash at 59 West May Street, Winder, Georgia 30680. I responded CODE 1 in my marked patrol vehicle. Upon my arrival, I met with the victim, Mr. [VICTIM #1], and the vehicle he was in, a 1999 GMC Denali bearing Georgia Tag [REDACTED].

I asked [VICTIM #1] if he was the vehicle involved in a crash, and he advised yes. I then asked what happened, and he stated a grey Dodge Durango bearing Georgia Tag [REDACTED] was parked in a parking stall facing north (towards the building), backed out, and struck the vehicle he was operating, registered to Ms. [REDACTED]. I observed the minor damage to the vehicle and photographed it. I gave [VICTIM #1] a case card and advised him that I would be completing a report that would soon be available. [VICTIM #1] advised that when it happened, he hit the horn trying to get the other driver’s attention, and a bystander tried to flag the suspect’s vehicle down. The bystander was able to capture a picture of the license plate. I had [VICTIM #1] email me the picture, and it has been attached to the case report. [VICTIM #1] advised that the suspect vehicle did not stop and drove off.

I then traveled to the area of 315 Natchez (pool house in the Bellingrath subdivision), where Deputy G. Wright S122 had located the suspect vehicle and driver. Upon my arrival, Officer Pierce was already speaking with the suspect and advised that the suspect driver was involved in a crash and did not stop and call 911.

The suspect was identified as Mr. Jose Gonzalez Garcia. Based on the evidence and statements from Jose, I placed him into properly fitted double-lock handcuffs behind the back and searched him for weapons, drugs, and means of escape. None was located. I placed Jose in the rear seat of my patrol car and seat-belted him in with a lap and shoulder belt. I then transported Jose to the Barrow County Detention Center, where he was turned over to jail staff on a Hit and Run Citation (WC83652).

Officer Melniciuc took pictures of the suspect vehicle.

Sgt. Wolfe returned to 59 West May Street and watched the video from surveillance cameras. It showed Jose wearing what he was wearing when I arrived on scene, getting into a grey Dodge Durango and quickly backing out of the parking stall, striking the GMC in the front, and then driving out of the parking lot without stopping. A video request has been submitted.

I was operating patrol vehicle 440.

[End of Narrative]