Manuel Sablon

Name:
Sablon, Manuel Jose

Date of Booking:
06/14/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Brake Light Requirements For All Vehicles Manufactured After Jan 1, 1954

Consumption/Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in Passenger Area

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.]

On 6/14/2026 at approximately 0021 hours, I, Ofc. B. Harris W152 was patrolling the area of S Broad St, Winder, GA 30680. As I was travelling South on S Broad St, I observed multiple vehicles ahead of me slowing down, and then I noticed the vehicle closest to me had a brake light out on the driver’s side. I initiated a traffic stop using my lights and sirens in marked patrol vehicle #400. The vehicle yielded and changed lanes into the turn lane of Loganville Hwy and Township Ave.

Upon approaching the vehicle on the passenger side because traffic was on the driver’s side, I was met by the driver, Manuel Sablon. I noticed Mr. Sablon waving his finger over the switches on the door as if he were having a tough time finding the window switch. I ended up asking Mr. Sablon if I could just open the door, and he agreed. As I was explaining the reason for the stop to Mr. Sablon, I immediately observed the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the vehicle, along with an open container on the passenger floorboard between the center console and a backpack. The open container sat high up, as if it were meant to be readily accessible to the driver, but still be hard to see from inside a vehicle next to the car. While speaking with Mr. Sablon, I also observed drawn-out/slurred speech along with red, watery eyes. I asked Mr. Sablon where he was coming from, and he stated he was coming home from work in Dallas, GA. I immediately thought that was weird after I confirmed that he still lived at the same address on his license, and was in the opposite direction in which he was travelling.

I then walked back to my patrol vehicle to call for a 2nd unit and to start on Mr. Sablon’s citation. A few minutes later, Ofc. P. Melniciuc W151 arrived, and I instructed Mr. Sablon to step out of the vehicle and speak with me. I explained my observations to Mr. Sablon and asked him how much he had to drink tonight. Mr. Sablon stated that he stopped and picked up the beverage that was on the passenger floorboard, which was a Mike’s Harder Screwdriver, after he left work. While speaking with Mr. Sablon, I observed the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath. Mr. Sablon repeatedly asked if he could pee on the side of the road but I kept advising him that I couldn’t let him do that. I then asked Mr. Sablon if he was willing to participate in field sobriety tests, to which he agreed. I then began the field sobriety test.

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test:
Mr. Sablon stated he doesn’t wear contacts or glasses. Lack of smooth pursuit (2 clues observed, 1 in each eye) Distinct and Sustained Nystagmus @Maximum Deviation – (2 clues observed, 1 in each eye) Onset of Nystagmus prior to 45 degrees – (0 clues observed)
Total of 4 clues observed.

Walk and Turn test:
Mr. Sablon stated that he didn’t have any issues with his legs or with balancing. I instructed Mr. Sablon to stand in the starting position, heel to toe, and to maintain that position until told to begin. Mr. Sablon put his feet side by side after I instructed him to maintain the heel-to-toe position. During the Walk and Turn test, I observed:
Can’t balance during instructions (Returning his feet to the side-by-side position, 1 clue) Missed heel to toe (1 clue)
Total of 2 clues observed.

One Leg Stand test:
I explained the One Leg Stand test to Mr. Sablon. During the One Leg Stand test, I observed: Put his right foot back down after starting the test (1 clue) Sways while balancing (1 clue)
Total of 2 clues observed.

During the One Leg Stand Test, I observed Mr. Sablon’s left leg shaking violently while trying to keep his balance, causing him to sway back and forth for a few seconds. Also, during the One Leg Stand, Mr. Sablon was counting, one-one thousand, two-one thousand, like instructed, but then he slightly paused the counting and began counting single digits (6,7,8, etc.).

After completing the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, observing all of the clues and using my knowledge, training, and experience, I felt that Mr. Sablon was less than safe to drive, and I had enough probable cause to place Mr. Sablon under arrest for DUI. I then placed Mr. Sablon in properly spaced, double-locked handcuffs behind his back. I then searched Mr. Sablon’s person for weapons, contraband, and means of escape with negative findings.

I then placed Mr. Sablon in the rear passenger compartment of my patrol vehicle and secured him using a lap-and-shoulder harness for his safety. I then read Implied Consent for persons over the age of 21 for breath. Mr. Sablon agreed to the Implied Consent of his breath. I then completed a Probable Cause search of Mr. Sablon’s vehicle, where I found a prescription bottle of what appeared to be Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine (Adderall) in the center console with Mr. Sablon’s name on it, along with the 16oz can of Mike’s Harder Screwdriver, which appeared to have approximately 20-30% of liquid left in the can. The can was still chilled as if it had been opened recently.

Ofc. Melniciuc completed the impound sheet, and the vehicle was towed from the scene by All County Towing. I then transported Mr. Sablon to the Barrow County Detention Center, where the breath test was completed by Cpl. T. Perrin W117. The breath test results came back as .01. Mr. Sablon was released from my custody to the Detention Center staff without further incident.

The arrest booking and citation were completed while at the Detention Center, and the copies of the citations were left with Mr. Sablon’s property. I checked the backseat of my patrol vehicle before transporting Mr. Sablon and after dropping him off at the Detention Center with negative findings. Mr. Sablon’s license was kept in my possession, and I attached a Temporary Driving Permit sticker to the bottom of Mr. Sablon’s copy of the DUI citation.

Photos of the open container are attached to this report. Manuel Sablon was issued 3 citations:
Driving Under the Influence 1st Offense (less safe) – Citation #WC005624
Alcohol Open Container – Citation #WC005623
Brake Lights Inoperative – Citation #WC005622

[End of Narrative]