Get notified by email when this case is updated.
1 following this caseThe Georgia Gazette is actively monitoring this case. Check back for the latest updates as more information becomes available.
Name:
Collins, Jeffery Grant
Date of Booking:
03/07/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL
DUI – ENDANGERMENT OF CHILD UNDER AGE 14
FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE
HIT AND RUN; DUTY OF DRIVER TO STOP AT OR RETURN TO SCENE OF ACCIDENT
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 Saturday March 7,2026 I was contacted by Carrollton Police Officer Freeman by phone that there was a wreck in Highway 16 at Skinner Rd.
I arrived and contacted Sgt Kirsh from the Carrollton Police Dept. Sgt Kirsh stated that he came up on the wreck and that he was told that the female that was on scene was not the driver. The witness [WITNESS #1] stated he watched a male exit the vehicle and walk away from the vehicle. I arrived and contacted the female and she first that she was driving the vehicle, and I explained to the female that a witness said otherwise. The female then said that her baby’s daddy was driving the vehicle.
Sgt Kirsh came up and said that his other officer was out with the male at the greenbelt trail head. I went to that location and contacted the driver of the vehicle Jeffery Collins. I asked the other Carrollton Officer if he would stay with Jeffery and I went and spoke with the witness [WITNESS #1]. [WITNESS #1] said he saw a child in the car right after the vehicle went into the ditch as well. [WITNESS #1] said that he watched the driver and pointed to Jeffery and said he got out of the driver’s side and he and the child walked away from the vehicle. [WITNESS #1] said he watched Jeffery change clothes and attempt to walk away from the trailhead.
I went back and spoke with Jeffery and explained that I was told he was driving the vehicle. Jeffery then said yes, he was driving and that he had run off the road and into the ditch the front end of the vehicle slammed into the ditch causing the driver side airbag to deploy. We found out that Jeffery’s 7-year-old daughter was in the back seat of the vehicle and she was seat belted in.
We ask dispatch to contact Tanner Ambulance and have them come and check the daughter. Once they arrived it was found that the 7-year-old [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had a bad seat belt burning across her neck and stomach and a large laceration across her lap area. Due to the injuries [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was transported to CHOA hospital along with her mother riding. I went back and talked to Jeffery and as I was talking with Jeffery, he had a very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath. I also noticed Jeffery had blood shot watery eyes and some slurring of speech. I asked Jeffery if he would be willing to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Test and Jeffery gave a verbal YES. Below are my findings:
Jeffery advised that he would be willing to submit to SFST’s to ensure he was fit to operate a motor vehicle. The following are my observations of Jeffery during the subsequently administered SFST’s:
I then medical cleared Jeffery by making sure they have had no recent head injuries and had no physical limitations that would limit him from walking, turning, or standing on one leg.
HGN / VGN:
I observed both of Jeffery’s pupils to be of equal size and observed no resting nystagmus in either eye. I observed equal tracking in both eyes.
The following clues were observed for a total of 4 out of 6 possible clues.
Lack of Smooth Pursuit —Observed
Distinct and Sustained Nystagmus at Maximum Deviation — Observed
Onset of Nystagmus Prior to 45 Degrees — Not Observed
Vertical Nystagmus — Not Observed
Additional observations of Jeffery during this evaluation: Jeffery had to be told several times to follow the stimulus.
The Walk and Turn:
Jeffery advised that he understood the instructions as I had given them and advised that he had no questions about the evaluation.
The following clues were observed for a total of 5 out of 8 possible clues.
1 — Looses balance while listening to instructions – Observed
2 — Starts too soon – Observed
3 — Stops while walking — Not Observed
4 — Misses heel-to-toe — Observed
5 — Steps offline — Not Observed
6 — Uses arms for balance – Observed
7 — Improper turn —Observed
8 — Improper number of steps — Not Observed
Additional observations of Jeffery during this evaluation: Jeffery stepped out during instructions he also raised his arms and then placed them back by his side. Jeffery missed heal to toe several times and made a spin turn.
The One Leg Stand:
Jeffery advised that he understood the instructions as I had given them and advised that he had no questions about the evaluation.
The following clues were observed for a total of 3 out of 4 possible clues.
1 — Puts foot down — Observed
2 — Uses arms for balance — Observed
3 — Sways – Observed
4 — Hopping Not Observed
Additional observations of Jeffery during this evaluation: Jeffery started swaying and then dropped his foot. He picked his foot up and then raised his arms before he dropped his foot again.
PBT: (Portal Breath Test)
Jeffery agreed to conduct the PBT. The PBT indicated a positive presence of alcohol on Jeffery’s breath, indicating a BrAC of 0.123 grams.
Based upon my Knowledge, Experience, Training and contact with the driver Jeffery, I determined that he was under the influence of alcohol to a point that it was unsafe for him to operate a motor vehicle. I placed Jeffery under arrest for DUI Alcohol by placing him in handcuffs, ensuring for proper fit, and double locking them.
I then verified Jeffery’s age and immediately read him the Georgia Implied Consent Notice (Green Card) for Suspects 21 YOA or over. Jeffery agreed to submit to the state administered chemical testing of his blood under implied consent.
Jeffery was placed in the back seat of my patrol vehicle. Due to the airbags deploying I transported Jeffery to Tanner hospital in Carrollton, Ga and had him medical cleared. I asked dispatch to contact True Peaks and have them come to the hospital and perform the blood draw. [REDACTED] from True Peaks arrived and was able to draw two vials of blood from Jeffery’s right arm at 18:26 hours. Once the blood draw was completed [REDACTED] sealed the blood kit and handed it to me. Once Jeffery was cleared I transported to the Carroll County Jail without incident or injury.
Once at the jail Jeffery was turned over to jail staff. I issued the following citations:
1) DUI 40-6-391
2) DUI Child 40-6-391L
3) Failure to maintain lane 40-6-48
4) Hit and run 40-6-270
All court copies and violators copies were placed in the property in the jail. I logged the DOFS blood kit into evidence and placed it in the locker and locked the door. I also wrote it in the log book.
[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:
3/7/26
JEFFERY GRANT COLLINS BOOKED INTO CUSTODY
What this means: Jeffery Grant Collins was booked in Carroll County on March 7, 2026. He is accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, endangering a child under the age of 14, failure to maintain a lane, and hit and run — specifically, allegedly failing to stop at or return to the scene of an accident.
3/13/26
ACCUSATION FILED AGAINST JEFFERY GRANT COLLINS
What this means: On March 13, 2026, the State of Georgia formally filed an accusation — a written charging document — against Jeffery Grant Collins in Carroll State Court, Case No. S-2026-M-977. An accusation is used in State Court (as opposed to an indictment, which comes from a grand jury) to officially lay out the charges the defendant must answer to. The document lists the charges Jeffery Grant Collins is facing and was filed by the Carroll County District Attorney’s office. The defendant’s attorney of record is listed as Malcolm Millbrook out of Dallas, Georgia.
3/13/26
APPEARANCE BOND ISSUED FOR JEFFERY GRANT COLLINS
What this means: On March 13, 2026, an appearance bond was issued in Carroll County for Jeffery Grant Collins. A bond is a financial guarantee that the defendant will return to court for future proceedings. By signing the bond, Jeffery Grant Collins agreed to appear at all required court dates. The bond was authorized by Carroll County Sheriff Terry E. Langley.
4/15/26
ARRAIGNMENT SCHEDULED FOR JEFFERY GRANT COLLINS
What this means: An arraignment was scheduled for Jeffery Grant Collins on April 15, 2026, at 1:30 PM in Carroll State Court. An arraignment is a court hearing where the defendant is formally read the charges against them and enters a plea — typically guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
5/29/26
DEFENSE ATTORNEY ENTERS APPEARANCE FOR JEFFERY GRANT COLLINS
What this means: On May 29, 2026, Jason W. Swindle, Sr. of Swindle Law Group, P.C. filed an Entry of Appearance in Carroll State Court, Case No. STM2026000977, formally notifying the court that he is now the attorney of record for Jeffery Grant Collins. The filing was stamped as received by the court on June 1, 2026. Swindle Law Group is located at 310 Tanner Street in Carrollton, Georgia.
5/29/26
DEFENSE FILES DEMAND FOR CRIMINAL DISCOVERY
What this means: On May 29, 2026, Jason W. Swindle, Sr. filed a Demand for Criminal Discovery on behalf of Jeffery Grant Collins in Carroll State Court, Case No. STM2026000977. This is a formal legal request requiring the prosecution to turn over evidence it intends to use at trial — including witness information, incident reports, videos, recordings, and other materials as allowed under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 17-16). The demand was filed within 10 days of arraignment, as required.
5/29/26
JEFFERY GRANT COLLINS WAIVES ARRAIGNMENT AND ENTERS PLEA OF NOT GUILTY
What this means: On May 29, 2026, defense attorney Jason W. Swindle, Sr. filed a Waiver of Arraignment and Plea of Not Guilty on behalf of Jeffery Grant Collins in Carroll State Court, Case No. STM2026000977. By waiving arraignment, Jeffery Grant Collins gave up his right to appear in court for the formal reading of the charges — a common procedural step when a defendant and their attorney are already aware of the charges. The not guilty plea was entered at the same time, and the filing requests the case be placed on the next available trial calendar.
6/10/26
ARRAIGNMENT RESCHEDULED FOR JEFFERY GRANT COLLINS
What this means: A second arraignment date was set for Jeffery Grant Collins on June 10, 2026, at 1:30 PM in Carroll State Court. This suggests the April 15 arraignment did not result in a final plea, and the matter has been continued to this new date.
8/4/26
PROSECUTION SERVES CRIMINAL DISCOVERY ON DEFENSE
What this means: On August 4, 2026, the prosecution filed a Certificate of Service in Carroll State Court, Case No. STM2026000977, confirming that criminal discovery materials were served on the defense on July 29, 2026. This means the State provided Jeffery Grant Collins’s defense team with evidence and materials related to the case, as required by the earlier discovery demand filed by the defense.
9/10/26
STATUS HEARING SCHEDULED FOR JEFFERY GRANT COLLINS
What this means: A status hearing was scheduled for Jeffery Grant Collins on September 10, 2026 at 9:00 AM in Carroll State Court. A status hearing is a court appearance where the judge checks on the progress of the case — whether discovery has been exchanged, whether plea negotiations are ongoing, and whether the case is moving toward trial or resolution. No outcome is decided at a status hearing; it is simply a checkpoint in the case process.
10/6/26
STATUS HEARING SCHEDULED FOR JEFFERY GRANT COLLINS
What this means: A second status hearing was scheduled for Jeffery Grant Collins on October 6, 2026 at 1:30 PM in Carroll State Court. This indicates the September 10 status hearing did not result in a final resolution, and the case continues to move through the court system.