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Name:
Sanford, Brandon Thomas
Date of Booking:
07/03/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Failure To Obey Stop Sign or Yield After Stopping – 8 Counts
Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device
Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device
Aggravated Assault Against a Police Officer
Criminal Damage to Property 2nd (Business)
Lighted Headlights/Other Lights Required 1/2 Hours After Sunset – 1/2 Hour Before Sunrise
Open Container Violation Beer/Ale/Proter/Stout/Other Similar Beverages
Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device
STOP SIGN VIOLATION
Willful Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers-Misdemeanor
Willful Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers-Felony
Fleeing/Attempting to Elude Police
Reckless Driving
DUI-Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol to the extent that it is less safe for the person to drive
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 July 3rd, 2026, around 0135 hours, I was traveling on Cassville Rd approaching Harris St. While traveling toward the Cartersville Police Department, I observed a red Chevrolet truck passing me with no headlights or taillights activated. The truck was traveling at a high rate of speed. I quickly turned around on Cassville Rd and began to locate the vehicle. I observed the truck turn on its headlights and turn left onto Sugar Valley Road. I then turned onto Sugar Valley Road to attempt a traffic stop on the vehicle.
I observed the truck on Sugar Valley Rd approaching the Cartersville Sports Complex. I then activated my blue lights and began to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. The truck pulled into the park and immediately began to back up in my direction. I then backed my patrol vehicle up to avoid an accident.
The driver of the truck, later identified as Brandon Sanford, stuck his head out of the driver’s side window and held up a peace sign to me. Mr. Sanford then drove off on Sugar Valley Road heading in the direction of Cassville Road. I then activated my sirens and began to pull over the vehicle, but Mr. Sanford did not yield. A Georgia tag was displayed on the Chevrolet truck. The tag was. He then continued down Cassville Road, passing Goodyear Avenue. Deputy Miller with the Bartow County Sheriff’s Department was on Cassville Road near Harris Street. While behind Mr. Sanford’s truck, I notified Bartow County Emergency Services that he was not stopping and we were in pursuit.
Deputy Miller then took over the pursuit. The pursuit went from Cassville Road onto Cherokee Avenue. Mr. Sanford failed to yield at the stop sign and then turned left onto Cherokee Avenue. While on Cherokee Avenue, Officer Clanton pulled his vehicle into the intersection of Bartow Street and Cherokee Avenue in an attempt to intercept the vehicle and stop the pursuit. Mr. Sanford then accelerated through the intersection toward Officer Clanton. Officer Clanton stated he believed that if he had not moved, Mr. Sanford was attempting to strike his vehicle with his.
Mr. Sanford then drove on the wrong side of the road on Cherokee Avenue approaching Erwin Street. Mr. Sanford did not stop at the stop sign at that intersection. The pursuit traveled all the way down to S Dixie Avenue. While on Cherokee Avenue, Mr. Sanford also did not stop at the red lights on Gilmer Street and Tennessee Street. Mr. Sanford then made a right turn from S Dixie Avenue onto E Main Street. Mr. Sanford increased his speed during the pursuit, traveling over 70 miles per hour on E Main Street.
Mr. Sanford then continued on Main Street and came to the intersection of Fite Street. While on Fite Street, Mr. Sanford began traveling toward West Avenue. A P.I.T maneuver was performed by a Sheriff’s deputy in an attempt to end the pursuit. The P.I.T was unsuccessful. Mr. Sanford then drove through a person’s yard at [500 BLOCK] West Ave. Mr. Sanford then drove back onto West Avenue, passing Etowah Drive. Once on West Avenue, Georgia State Patrol entered the chase. Multiple P.I.T maneuvers were attempted but still not successful.
On West Avenue, Mr. Sanford did not stop at a total of three different intersections. Each intersection of West Avenue had stop signs at them that Mr. Sanford ignored and did not stop. Mr. Sanford then made a right turn on S Erwin Street and began traveling toward Cook Street. Georgia State Patrol was then able to perform a box-in maneuver with the Bartow Sheriff’s Department. A felony stop was conducted on Mr. Sanford. He was told by me and other law enforcement to crawl out of his window. Mr. Sanford refused our order and stayed inside his vehicle.
Other Sheriff Deputies and I had to walk up to Mr. Sanford and extract him from his truck. Once he was out of his truck, Mr. Sanford refused to place his hands behind his back and was placed into custody by force. The handcuffs were double locked and checked for equal spacing. I then walked him to my patrol vehicle where I searched him for contraband and weapons. While searching Mr. Sanford, he said out loud that “the reason I ran was that I am drunk.” I then placed Mr. Sanford in the rear of my patrol vehicle.
A wrecker was started to tow Mr. Sanford’s truck away from the scene. Agape Towing arrived on scene and took possession of Mr. Sanford’s truck. An inventory was done of the items inside the vehicle. A large cup was located in the center console; the cup contained an alcoholic beverage inside.
I then transported Mr. Sanford to the Bartow County Jail, where he was refused by jail staff because he was involved in a motor vehicle accident. I then transported him to Piedmont Hospital, where he was handed over to medical personnel. Officer Pearce and Corporal Hawley stayed with Mr. Sanford until he was medically clear.
I then returned to the Cartersville Police Department. I was able to secure a warrant for Mr. Sanford. He was charged with multiple charges. Mr. Sanford was charged with D.U.I less safe, fleeing and attempting to elude, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, felony obstruction, reckless driving, misdemeanor obstruction, failure to stop at a stop sign, no headlights, and failure to stop at a traffic control device. The warrant and charges were granted by a Bartow County Judge.
A copy of the warrant was uploaded into the electronic file.
[End of Narrative]