Juan Colato

Name:
Colato, Juan Antonio

Date of Booking:
02/04/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
Hit and Run Resulting in Serious Injury or Death

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 04, 2025]

On February 4, 2025, at approximately 1429 hours I responded to the area of Bank head Hwy/Carl-Cedar Hill in reference to a hit and run.

While driving code 3 down County line Auburn Rd, I passed a silver Mercedes with front-end damage that matched the description that dispatch gave. I turned around and attempted to catch up with the car but was unable to catch up. I looked at the recent cars that have hit on my LPR system and said that the license plate number on the suspect car was [REDACTED]. While looking up this information dispatch advised that there was a car following the suspect vehicle and that it had just turned down Murfield Dr.

I was then able to locate the vehicle in the driveway of [700 BLOCK] Murfield Dr. I made contact with a male who was identified as, Juan Colato, at the front door of the residence. When I asked Juan if he knew why I was there. He stated that he did and that he knew he shouldn’t have left. When I asked him what happened he stated that the bike came over in his lane and he hit them and then got scared and left the scene. He also told me where the accident occurred.

I then placed Juan in a pair of double-locked handcuffs and checked for proper fit. I then searched him and placed him in the back seat of my patrol car. He was the transported to the Barrow County Detention Center and turned over to jail staff without issue.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on February 04, 2025]

On February 4, 2025, at approximately 14:29, I was dispatched to Carl-Cedar Hill Rd and Bankhead Hwy regarding a hit-and-run with a pedestrian. I responded to the area “code 3.”

Upon arriving on the scene, I observed that a bicycle was in the roadway with a male lying next to it. The male was identified as [VICTIM #1]. I observed [VICTIM #1] had a laceration on his right leg and a large knot on the back of his head. A paramedic on the scene advised that [VICTIM #1] possibly had broken bones and ribs. I observed glass from a headlight and headlight housing around the bike.

I asked [VICTIM #1] what happened. [VICTIM #1] said he was daydreaming and was riding his bicycle toward Auburn. [VICTIM #1] was transported by Med 6 to Northside Hospital Gwinnett. I spoke to a witness who identified herself as [WITNESS #1]. [WITNESS #1] said she was driving north on Carl-Cedar Hill Road. [WITNESS #1] said that [VICTIM #1] did not slow down or stop at the stop sign at Bankhead Hwy and drove into the roadway. [WITNESS #1] said that a silver passenger vehicle was traveling south on Carl-Cedar Hill Road. The Silver vehicle drove into the right side of [VICTIM #1]’s bike and fell to the ground. The vehicle pulled over and then sped off. [WITNESS #1] was not sure of the make or model of the vehicle and did not see the driver. [WITNESS #1] provided a written statement.

I spoke with [WITNESS #2]. [WITNESS #2] said that he was driving northbound on Carl-Cedar Hill Road. He did not see the wreck but saw [VICTIM #1] and the bicycle falling to the ground. [WITNESS #2] said that after the wreck, a silver passenger vehicle with a male white driver stopped. The male was a heavy male wearing a ball cap, possibly a white male. The male was approximately 30 years old. [WITNESS #2] said he was not sure of anything else because the driver did not get out of the vehicle. The male then drove off without asking if [VICTIM #1] was okay. [WITNESS #2] declined a written statement.

Deputy L. Bradley advised he located the vehicle at [700 BLOCK] Muirfield Drive. The vehicle was a 2004 Lexus LS340 Georgia tag [REDACTED]. The driver’s side headlight was broken. Deputy Bradley advised that he did speak to Juan Colato. Juan admitted driving the vehicle and being in the area and left the scene due to him being scared. Deputy Bradley placed Juan under arrest for Hit-and-Run resulting in serious injuries. Juan was transported to the Detention center.

My probable cause comes from the accused driving a 2004 Silver Lexus LS430 Georgia tag, [REDACTED]. The accused was at the intersection of Carl-Cedar Hill Road and Bankhead Hwy, two roadways in Barrow County, Georgia. The Accuse hit a male on a bicycle who was driving in the roadway. After driving into the male on the bicycle, the Accused drove off from the scene, not rendering first aid or staying on the scene until law enforcement arrived. The male on the bicycle received a laceration on his leg that was hit by the car and a large knot on the back of his head from hitting the roadway. between the dates of 02/04/2025 at 02:29 PM and 02/04/2025 at 03:40 PM, in Barrow County, Georgia; the place of occurrence of said offense being Carl-Cedar Hill Rd/ Bankhead Hwy, Winder, Ga, 30680, Barrow County and against the laws of the State of Georgia

[End of Narrative]