Daniel Morales

Name:
Morales, Daniel

Date of Booking:
07/22/2023

Reason(s) For Booking:
Failure To Maintain Lane – M

DUI – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL – M

DRIVING WITHOUT A VALID LICENSE (FOURTH OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE) – M

Driving Without Headlights – M

FLEEING OR ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE A POLICE OFFICER – M

Driving On Wrong Side Of Roadway – M

Failure To Wear Seat Safety Belt – M

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 22, 2023, at approximately 2335, while traveling Northbound on Main Street, myself and Ofc. Brown observed a vehicle traveling Southbound on Main Street with no headlights on.

The vehicle, a white in color Ford Expedition with Oklahoma Tag ([REDACTED]), proceeded to turn on their turn signal and turned into the 109 Minus Avenue shopping plaza. I then proceeded to follow the vehicle with my in-car camera on, while documenting what I saw as the vehicle still had no lights or taillights on. As I continued to follow the vehicle at a safe distance with no lights on yet, the vehicle stopped at the intersection of Minus Avenue and Highway 21. The vehicle then turned their right turn blinker on and drove into the opposite lane of travel at the intersection and refused to go anywhere as the light was green for several seconds.

I then called out the traffic stop and waited to activate my lights and sirens until they turned right onto Highway 21 traveling Northbound. As the vehicle turned on Highway 21, traveling Northbound, I activated my patrol car lights and sirens and followed the vehicle. As I followed the vehicle, it drove over the curb on Highway 21 and Prince Preston Drive traveling Northbound in the right hand lane, and it proceeded to swerve in between the lanes of the road. The vehicle then came to a stop before the Waffle House at 4310 Highway 21.

I approached the vehicle from the driver side and immediately detected the smell of an alcoholic beverage. The driver, later identified as Daniel Morales, appeared to have glossy and bloodshot eyes, with an odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his person. When I asked Mr. Daniel for his Georgia Driver’s License, he informed me it was at his house. I then asked him for his name and this was at the moment I could hear his speech become slurred as he tried to tell me his name. I then returned to my vehicle and started to run Mr. Daniel through GCIC/NCIC, when I observed Mr. Daniel shift the vehicle into drive and take off from my traffic stop.

Ofc. Brown informed additional units of the incident and I followed the vehicle approximately 30 feet before it stopped in front of the Waffle House at 4310 Highway 21. Mr. Daniel and the passenger, later identified as [REDACTED], were removed from the vehicle and placed into handcuffs, sized to fit and double locked. Both occupants were taken to the front of my patrol vehicle. I then searched Mr. [REDACTED] and found his wallet and his cellphone. Ofc. Brown searched Mr. Daniel and found a wallet and nothing else of value. While standing at the front my patrol, Mr. Daniel was swaying from side to side and forward and backwards, having a hard time maintaining his balance.

I then read Mr. Daniel his Miranda Rights and asked him how much he had to drink. Mr. Daniel then stated he had 2 beers. Mr. Daniel was then asked to give a Preliminary Breath Test sample and he agreed. Mr. Daniel then completed the test and a positive indication of alcohol was emitted from his breath (0.104). I read Mr. Daniel the State of Georgia Implied Consent for Driver’s (DDS-354 05/2019) over the age of 21. Mr. Daniel refused to give a state blood sample. I then placed Mr. Daniel in the back seat of my patrol car as he was informed he was under arrest for Driving Under the Influence and Driving Without a Valid License. Mr. [REDACTED] was released to Cpl. Wilson as he gave him a ride home to [60 BLOCK] Brampton Road.

Mr. Daniel was then transported to CCDC without incident. He was given his citations with a court date of September 13, at 1300 hours and given a copy of his arraignment form. He was given a bond of $5,000. Mr. Daniels vehicle was towed by Sapp’s Towing and he was given a copy of the tow form as well. A DDS 1205 form was completed for Mr. Daniel as he refused the State Test. He was also given his copy of the DDs 1205 form.

It should be noted that while in the jail, Mr. Daniel spontaneously uttered he only had 3 drinks at his house

[End of Narrative]