Samson Black

Name:
Black, Samson Hamilton

Date of Booking:
06/23/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Brake Lights Required

Marijuana possession less than 1 oz.

Open Container Violation Beer/Ale/Porter/Stout/Other Similar Beverages

DUI-Driving Under the Influence of Multiple Substances

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 6/23/2026 at approximately 2050 hours, I, Ofc. B. Harris W152 was patrolling N Broad St when I got behind a white Honda Accord (License Plate [REDACTED]) that was approaching May St. I observed the vehicle make a lane change into the left turn lane to turn onto E May St. At the time of the lane change, I observed the driver, later identified as Samson Black, fail to use a turn signal when making the lane change. I also observed the vehicle had an inoperative 3rd brake light.

After the vehicle turned left onto E May St, I initiated a traffic stop using lights and sirens in marked patrol vehicle #400. Mr. Black yielded to my lights and turned into 93 E May St, Winder, GA 30680 (Circle K). Upon approaching the driver’s side window, I observed Mr. Black appearing to struggle to put the window down and to get the driver’s door open. Once Mr. Black opened the driver’s side door, I immediately observed the odor of burnt marijuana emanating from the vehicle. I explained to Mr. Black the reason for the stop. I immediately observed Mr. Black’s voice as very shaky, along with him being extremely nervous.

I went back to my patrol vehicle and notified Barrow County Dispatch to send a 2nd unit to my location while I began on Mr. Black’s citation. When Ofc. P. Melniciuc W151 arrived on scene. I approached the driver’s side door and asked Mr. Black to step out of the vehicle to speak with me. I explained to Mr. Black that I observed an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle, which gave me probable cause to search the vehicle. I asked Mr. Black if he had recently smoked marijuana, and he stated, “About 2 hours ago”. While speaking with Mr. Black, I observed the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath.

I asked Mr. Black if there was anything that I would find in the vehicle, and he stated that I would find an open container in the passenger area that he had just picked up from the store next to the Mexican restaurant after dinner, within the last hour. I asked Mr. Black if I would find any drugs in the vehicle, and he stated, “Just the open container”. I explained to Mr. Black that honesty goes a long way, and I said to him, “So I’m not going to find any marijuana in there?” Mr. Black finally stated that I would find some marijuana in the center console. I asked Mr. Black how much marijuana, in terms of grams, and he stated about 1 gram. I then began the probable cause search of the vehicle.

Upon conducting the probable cause search of the vehicle, I found a Ziploc bag in the center console with a green leafy substance appearing to be marijuana. Also in the center console, I found an orange marijuana grinder and a penguin-designed marijuana pipe with marijuana residue in the bowl, as well as an empty blue pouch of “Gelato Cake” cannabis flower with green leafy residue inside. I then searched under the driver’s seat and found an empty 25-oz can of Budweiser. Upon searching the passenger compartment, I found an open container of a 25oz Budweiser can with approximately ¼ of the liquid missing, in the passenger floorboard, with a green shirt on top of it to conceal it from my view. The open container was still cold. Right next to that open container, I found an empty 25-oz can of Budweiser, still chilled to the touch. Upon searching the vehicle’s back seat area, I found 4 more empty 25-oz cans of Budweiser. I found a total of 7 open containers in the vehicle. After concluding my search of the vehicle, I spoke with Mr. Black.

I asked Mr. Black how much he had to drink tonight, and he stated that he had a margarita at the Mexican restaurant within the last hour, then stopped by the store and picked up the open 25oz can of Budweiser that was in the passenger floorboard. While speaking with Mr. Black, I observed him becoming more nervous. I then asked Mr. Black if he would be willing to run through Field Sobriety tests, and he agreed. I asked Mr. Black if he had ever done a field sobriety test, and he said yes. As I walked Mr. Black into position to begin the field sobriety test, I observed him starting to shake nervously, and his voice got even shakier. I attempted to calm Mr. Black down and gave him about a minute to try to relax. I then began the field sobriety test.

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test:
Mr. Black stated that he does not wear contacts or glasses. There was 1 instance during the HGN test where Mr. Black turned his head to the left after being told to follow my pen with his eyes only. I observed equal pupil size and equal tracking. I did not observe resting nystagmus.

Lack of Smooth Pursuit: I observed 1 clue in each eye – 2 clues.
Distinct and Sustained Nystagmus @ Maximum Deviation: I observed 1 clue in each eye – 2 clues.
Onset of Nystagmus Prior to 45 degrees: I observed 1 clue in each eye – 2 clues. I did not observe Vertical Gaze Nystagmus.
Total of 6 clues observed.

Walk and Turn Test:
Mr. Black stated that he has no issues with balancing or walking. During the instruction stage, I observed Mr. Black swaying back and forth, and his hands continuously coming off his sides.

During the test, I observed:
Can’t balance during instructions – 1 clue
Stops while walking – 1 clue
Misses heel to toe – 1 clue
Steps off the line – 1 clue
Uses arms to balance – 1 clue
Total of 5 clues observed.

One Leg Stand Test:
Once again, Mr. Black stated that he had no issues with balancing and elected to keep his shoes on during the test.
During the test, I observed:
Uses arms to balance – 1 clue
Sways while balancing – 1 clue
Total of 2 clues observed.

Using my knowledge, training, and experience, as well as my observations throughout this incident, I had enough probable cause to place Mr. Black under arrest for DUI. I placed Mr. Black in properly spaced, double-locked handcuffs behind his back. I then walked Mr. Black to the front of my patrol vehicle, where I searched his person for weapons, contraband, and means of escape with negative findings. I then placed Mr. Black 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 after asking Mr. Black his age. Mr. Black agreed to the Implied Consent for blood. I then took photos of the evidence found in Mr. Black’s vehicle. I then placed the evidence into evidence bags and stored them in the trunk of my patrol vehicle. Ofc. P. Melniciuc completed the impound inventory, and the vehicle was towed from the scene by Patrick’s Towing.

I then transported Mr. Black to [REDACTED BY AGENCY], where the nurse drew blood from Mr. Black’s right arm at 2155 hours. After I received the completed blood kit from the nurse, I then transported Mr. Black to the Barrow County Detention Center, where Mr. Black was transferred into the custody of the Detention Center staff with no further incident. The arrest booking and citations were completed while I was at the Detention Center. A temporary driver’s license permit sticker was placed on the bottom of Mr. Black’s DUI citation.

I then traveled back to the Winder Police Department, where I placed the blood kit into the evidence refrigerator. I completed the LERMS entry for the blood kit along with the GBI Submission form. Evidence Property Receipt #A-31227

I then weighed the green leafy substance, appearing to be marijuana, using a calibrated scale at the police department. The weight was 4.83 grams. I then placed the evidence found in Mr. Blacks vehicle into Evidence Temp Locker 008 and completed the LERMS entries. Evidence Property Receipt #A-31228

Samson Black was given citations for:
Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol – Citation #WC005627
Alcohol Open Container – Citation #WC005628
Possession of Marijuana Less than 1-oz – Citation #WC005629
Brake Lights Inoperative – Citation #WC005630

Samson Black was given warnings for:
Possession of Drug-Related Materials – Warning #WW009308
Failure to Signal – Warning #WW009309

[End of Narrative]