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Name:
Pruitt, Matthew Lee
Date of Booking:
03/30/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Simple Battery
Impeding Flow of Traffic
Bicycle Must be on Right Side of Roadway
Disorderly Conduct
Public Drunk
Disturbing the Peace
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 Sunday, March 29th, 2026, at approximately 1846 hours, I, Ofc. Perry #149 was dispatched to 372 Exchange Boulevard, Bethlehem Ga 30620 (Friends) in reference to a refusal to leave. I traveled CODE 1 in my marked patrol vehicle #428.
Upon arrival, I met Ms. [REDACTED], who advised me that a subject at the bar, later identified as Mr. Matthew Pruitt, had been asked to leave multiple times but refused to leave the restaurant. I noticed that Matthew had gone out of the patio exit and was making his way to his black Huffy Dyno D300 bicycle.
As I approached Matthew outside, he was staggering and swaying while walking, and smelled strongly of an alcoholic beverage. As I began speaking to Matthew, his words were incredibly slurred, and he had bloodshot eyes. Matthew told me that he had never been asked to leave the restaurant by the staff. Matthew said that he would leave on his own and did not want any trouble. I advised Matthew that he would be criminally trespassed from this address and was not welcome back.
Matthew was also advised not to ride his bicycle and instead should push it since he admitted that he had been drinking the majority of the day. Matthew complied and pushed his bicycle away from the scene. After I came back outside the restaurant after gathering the callers’ information, I noticed that Matthew had begun riding his bicycle on Exchange Boulevard, heading west into oncoming traffic.
I entered my patrol vehicle and followed Matthew to a safe spot just east of the intersection of Exchange Boulevard and Exchange Lane. While I was waiting for a spot where I could safely pull Matthew over, he was swerving on his bicycle, forcing oncoming traffic to swerve to avoid him. Vehicles approaching him began honking their horns, and Matthew began giving them the middle finger and yelling at them.
I was finally able to get behind Matthew and initiated a traffic stop by activating my emergency blue lights and sirens. Matthew stopped his bicycle, and I advised him to step into the grass. I then placed Matthew in properly fitted double locked handcuffs and advised him that he would be placed under arrest for DUI Less Safe, Impeding the Flow of Traffic, Improper riding on the roadway, Public Drunk, Disorderly Conduct, and Disturbing the Peace.
I searched Matthew’s person for any drugs, weapons, or means of escape, and none were found. Matthew was then placed in the back seat of my patrol vehicle and escorted to 652 Barrow Park Drive, Winder Ga 30680 (Barrow County Detention Center). Upon arrival, the nurse at the jail refused Matthew and advised me that he needed to be medically cleared. I then transported Matthew to [REDACTED BY AGENCY].
Matthew was medically cleared a few hours later, and I then transported him and his belongings back to 652 Barrow Park Drive, Winder Ga 30680. Upon arrival, custody of Matthew and his belongings was relinquished to the Barrow County Intake Deputies. I completed all intake forms and left Matthew with six citations: WC91634 DUI Less Safe, WC91635 Improper riding on the roadway, WC91636 Public Drunk, WC91637 Impeding the flow of traffic, WC91638 Disorderly Conduct, and WC91639 Disturbing the Peace.
Matthew’s bicycle was taken to 25 East Midland Avenue, Winder Ga 30680 (Winder Police Department) for safekeeping. A LERMS entry was completed as well as a Winder Police Department Receipt for Property A-27988. I then returned to service with no further issues.
The backseat of my patrol vehicle was cleared before and after each time Matthew was placed in and taken out.
A lap and shoulder belt was placed over Matthew each time he was placed inside the backseat of my patrol vehicle.
A copy of the Winder Police Department Receipt for Property will be attached to this report.
A LERMS entry was completed for Matthew’s bicycle and will be attached to this report.
A LERMS entry for Matthews criminal trespass was completed.
[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
CASE BOUND OVER TO BARROW COUNTY STATE COURT
What this means: After an initial appearance in a lower court, Matthew Lee Pruitt’s case was formally transferred — or “bound over” — to the Barrow County State Court, where it would be handled going forward under Case No. 26-ST-00740.
4/30/26
APPEARANCE BOND ENTERED
What this means: An appearance bond was entered in Matthew Lee Pruitt’s case. A bond is a legal agreement that allows a defendant to remain out of custody while the case proceeds, on the condition that he appears for all required court dates.
7/30/26
ACCUSATION FILED — 3 COUNTS CHARGED AGAINST MATTHEW LEE PRUITT
What this means: On July 30, 2026, Chief Assistant Solicitor-General Kristen L. Murphy filed a formal accusation against Matthew Lee Pruitt in the State Court of Barrow County under Case No. 26-ST-00740. An accusation is the charging document used in State Court — it works similarly to an indictment but does not require a grand jury. Matthew Lee Pruitt is accused of the following:
Count 1 — Driving Under the Influence (Less Safe) (Alcohol), in violation of O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391(a)(1). Pruitt is accused of operating a moving vehicle on Exchange Boulevard on or about March 29, 2026, while under the influence of alcohol to the extent that it was less safe for him to drive.
Count 2 — Improper Riding of Bicycle on Roadway, in violation of O.C.G.A. § 40-6-294. Pruitt is accused of riding a bicycle on Exchange Boulevard on or about March 29, 2026, and allegedly failing to ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable.
Count 3 — Public Drunkenness, in violation of O.C.G.A. § 16-11-41. Pruitt is accused of appearing in an intoxicated condition at Exchange Boulevard, a public place, on or about March 29, 2026. The accusation states that his intoxicated condition was manifested by boisterousness — specifically, that he was yelling at passing vehicles and raising his middle finger toward them.
7/31/26
MATTHEW LEE PRUITT PLEADS GUILTY TO DUI — SENTENCED TO 12 MONTHS PROBATION
What this means: On July 31, 2026, Matthew Lee Pruitt entered a negotiated guilty plea to Count 1 — Driving Under the Influence (Less Safe) (Alcohol) — in the State Court of Barrow County before Judge Robert M. Gardner, Jr. of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit. Defense attorney Valerie Cochran represented Pruitt by appointment.
The court sentenced Pruitt to 12 months of probation. A fine of $500 was also imposed. The offense date is listed as March 29, 2026.
7/31/26
COUNTS 2 THROUGH 6 DISMISSED — NOLLE PROSEQUI ENTERED
What this means: On July 31, 2026, Solicitor-General Kyle Thompson, through Chief Assistant Solicitor-General Kristen L. Murphy, filed a Motion to Nolle Prosequi — a formal request to drop charges — against Matthew Lee Pruitt on Counts 2 through 6 of Case No. 26-ST-00740. The motion was granted by the court the same day.
Counts 2 (Improper Riding of Bicycle on Roadway), Count 3 (Public Drunkenness), Count 4 (Disorderly Conduct), Count 5 (Impeding Flow of Traffic), and Count 6 (Disturbing the Peace) were all dismissed in consideration of the guilty plea entered on Count 1. A nolle prosequi means the State has chosen not to prosecute those specific charges.