Rachel Spurlin

Name:
Spurlin, Rachel Ribnick

Date of Booking:
08/01/2023

Reason(s) For Booking:
Possession of a Firearm or Knife During Commission or Attempt to Commit certain Felonies

Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance

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 the above date and time I was utilizing my Radar device to measure the speed of vehicles traveling southbound on I-95. I visually estimated the speed of a black Sedan at 87 MPH. With my rear antenna, I locked in the speed of the vehicle at 88 MPH in the right lane. I pulled out of the median and got behind the black Nissan Versa with a FL tag of [REDACTED].

I activated my emergency lights and siren and initiated a traffic stop with the driver. The driver stopped on the shoulder side at the 4MM. As soon as I pulled the driver over I observed that he had erratic behavior and was fidgeting. I approached the vehicle on the passenger side and noticed that the male driver was not able to stop moving.

I requested his driver’s license and proof of insurance and the driver advised that he “needed to take a sh*t and get gas.” I told him that he had just passed multiple exits with truck stops and advised him to shut the car off to save gas. Dispatch ran Thomas Faulk through NCIC/GCIC and advised that his license was suspended.

I asked the passenger for her driver’s license and identified her as Rachel Spurlin. Spurlin’s driver’s license was active and valid. Spurlin acted as if she was nervous and was fumbling over documents while I spoke with her. Due to the driver and passenger’s behavior, I requested another unit and asked them to step out of the vehicle.

Officer Gibson, Sgt. Parker and Officer Teska arrived on scene to assist with the investigation. When Faulk got out of the vehicle I asked if he had any weapons on his person and asked for consent to pat him down. Faulk agreed and I asked him to wait in front of my patrol vehicle.

I then asked the driver and passenger if they had anything illegal in the vehicle and was told that they did not. The female stated that her firearm was in the vehicle. I asked for consent to search the car and the vehicle owner, Rachel Spurlin granted consent. Officer Teska and I conducted a search of the vehicle with Deputy Miner.

A Keltec .380 pistol was found in the glovebox in front of where Rachel Spurlin was sitting. The unloaded firearm was run through NCIC/GCIC by dispatch and came back as not stolen. In Spurlin’s purse, a bottle labeled “Extra Strength Pain Relief, Acetaminophen (40 caplets) was found containing 44 small circle pink pills labeled “A 48.” Utilizing pillidentifer.com I positively identified the pills as Oxycodone. An empty lockbox and a single dose of Narcan were also located in the backseat of the vehicle.

Due to the firearm being in the vehicle, I requested a criminal history for both parties and a driver’s history for Faulk. The histories’ revealed that Faulk was a multiple-time convicted felon but that Spurlin was not. Faulk’s driver’s history showed that this would be his first offense within five years for driving while suspended. His license was suspended for failure to pay a speeding citation.

Following the vehicle search, I asked the driver if he was willing to submit to Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST). Faulk consented to participate in SFST but continually asked if I could “just give him a breathalyzer.” I advised that I did not believe he was under the influence of alcohol. I informed him that based on my training and experience his behavior was consistent with the use of narcotics.

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN):

I started HGN by asking Faulk if he had any medical conditions with his eyes or if he wore contacts. Faulk stated that he just had poor vision. I checked the suspect’s pupils for equal size and tracking and observed that they were constricted. I observed six out of six clues for HGN but did not observe any vertical gaze nystagmus.

Walk and Turn:

For the walk-and-turn portion of SFST, I asked Faulk if he had any medical conditions with his knees and he advised that he “had a bad knee.” I explained that I would demonstrate the test and that if he did not feel comfortable he did not need to proceed. After I put Faulk in the starting position he advised that he was not able to complete the walk and turn.

One Leg Stand:

The one-leg stand portion of SFST was also not completed due to Faulk’s bad knee.

Throughout the testing, I noticed that Faulk started to sweat profusely and would not stop twitching his hands. I asked if he was willing to participate in further testing to evaluate him for narcotics use and he agreed.

Advanced Roadside Impairment Driving Enforcement (ARIDE):

-Lack of Convergence:

I asked Faulk to put his feet together and arms down by his side. I advised that I would be drawing a circle around his face with the tip of my finger and would get close to the bridge of his nose but would not make contact with his face. I did not observe any lack of convergence in this test.

-Romberg Balance Test:

Faulk was instructed to put his feet together and arms down by his side. I asked him to imagine the passing of thirty seconds with his head tilted back and eyes closed. After asking if he understood the exercise he began the test. Faulk was timed and opened his eyes after eighteen seconds. I observed mild swaying while his head was tilted back.

-Finger to Nose:

For this portion I placed Faulk back in the instructional position and demonstrated the test. Faulk did lift the right hand each time, however was unable to touch the bridge of his nose on multiple passes.

Following my DUI investigation, I placed Thomas Faulk under arrest for driving while suspended, speeding, DUI drugs, and possession of a Schedule 2 controlled substance. I asked him to turn around and place his hands behind his back, palms facing out. Faulk was secured in double-locked handcuffs and checked for fit.

Officer Teska searched Faulk incident to arrest. I then read the suspect Georgia implied consent for persons over the age of 21. I requested that Faulk participate in the state-administered test of his blood and he consented. Officer Teska then secured Faulk in the backseat of my patrol vehicle with a seatbelt.

Due to the pills being found in her purse, I read Rachel Spurlin her Miranda Rights and she agreed to answer my questions. I asked Spurlin who the Oxycodone belonged to and she advised that “it was probably her sister’s.” Faulk then screamed from the back of the patrol vehicle that anything I found in the vehicle belonged to him. Spurlin continued to deny the pills belonged to her.

When I got back in my car, Faulk went back and forth about the pills being his. Due to conflicting statements, I also placed Rachel Spurlin under arrest for possession of a Schedule 2 drug and possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony. I secured her in double-locked handcuffs and checked for fit.

I searched her person incident to arrest and Officer Gibson secured her in the back of her patrol vehicle for transport. Sgt. Parker requested the next tow truck in rotation and the vehicle was towed by Kelly’s.

In the midst of the second arrest, Faulk started to have a panic attack and continued to profusely sweat and have body tremors. I asked Faulk if he had swallowed anything due to his erratic behavior or if he had any medical conditions. Faulk informed me that he was having trouble breathing and may have been having a panic attack.

I asked dispatch to notify EMS. EMS evaluated Faulk and said that after checking vitals he was fine to be transported to the hospital. I took the suspect to CMC in St. Mary’s where they did the legal blood draw with Faulk’s consent and provided me with a medical clearance.

While at the hospital I read Faulk his Miranda Rights and he agreed to speak with me. I asked him further questions regarding the firearm and he insisted that he had no idea it was in the glovebox. He advised that his wife’s ex-husband owned a firearm store and that she may have bought it from him.

I then asked Faulk who the Oxycodone belonged to and he stated that they were his. Faulk then retracted his statement and advised that when his wife is on her period she may take them. Following the interview, it was determined that the Keltec .380 pistol belonged to and was in possession of Rachel Spurlin.

Faulk was re-secured in the back of my patrol vehicle with a seatbelt and transported to the Camden County Sheriff’s Office located in Woodbine, GA. Thomas Faulk was booked on possession of a Schedule 2 controlled substance, DUI- Drugs, Driving while suspended (first offense), and speeding. Rachel Spurlin was charged with possession of a Schedule 2 controlled substance and possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony.

Following transport, I checked the backseat of my patrol vehicle for contraband. I then went to the police station and submitted everything into evidence. All of the above charges have been secured on warrants and are awaiting judge approval.

[End of Narrative]