Jose Terga

Name:
Terga, Jose Angel

Date of Booking:
02/15/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
HIT AND RUN; DUTY OF DRIVER TO STOP AT OR RETURN TO SCENE OF ACCIDENT – 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.]

[NARRATIVE #1 on February 15, 2026]

On February 15, 2026, at 11:50 I was dispatched to a hit and run call at 246 Pooler Pkwy in the GNC parking lot. (See accident report 260215032)

I was notified by Officer Bedwell that the suspect involved in the hit and run was at Murphys Gas Station at 1555 Pooler Parkway.

When I arrived at Murphys Gas Station I immediately spoke with the driver of Blue Dodge Ram (Mr. Jose Terga). Mr. Terga stated he was riding around the parking lot, but he did not hit any vehicle. The statements I gathered from two witnesses identified Mr. Terga vehicle and where the accident occurred. I observed the front far-right side of Mr. Terga vehicle and saw paint from the vehicle that was reportedly hit. The witnesses described Mr. Terga perfectly, down to his shirt and hair color.

Mr. Terga was then handcuffed (double locked), placed under arrest, and placed in the back seat of my patrol vehicle.

Sapp’s Towing was called to tow Mr. Terga’s vehicle from Murphys Gas Station.

Mr. Terga was then transported to Memorial Hospital to get checked on since he was involved in a crash. After being cleared from the hospital, Mr. Terga was transported to CCDC.

He was given a court date of 04/16/2026 at 10 am, at the Pooler Municipal Court. He was given a bond of $1450.

Witnesses and victim were subpoenaed as well.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on February 15, 2026]

On 02/15/2026, I was stationary at Pooler Parkway at the Railroad Overpass near US HWY 80, when I was advised of a hit and run call that occurred at 246 Pooler Parkway. Call notes stated that the suspect vehicle was a Dark Blue Dodge pickup truck with the license plate of “[REDACTED]” with an unknown state. Call notes stated that the vehicle was traveling towards Pooler Parkway away from the crash scene. While OFC. Davis and APO. Schmitt were dispatched to the crash scene, I stayed at my location due to the possibility of observing the suspect vehicle on Pooler Parkway.

I then observed a Dodge Dark Blue Pickup with back left vehicle damage passing my location traveling south on Pooler Parkway and I observed the license plate as GA/[REDACTED]. I advised APO Schmitt over radio that I possibly had the suspect’s vehicle and advised him of the vehicle’s tag and the observable damage.

APO Schmitt advised me that witnesses on scene had secured the picture of the vehicle and the vehicle was a match. I then advised dispatch that I was following the vehicle and waiting for another officer to initiate the traffic stop. It was at this point that the vehicle pulled off of Pooler Parkway onto Merlot Lane at the Murphy’s Gas Station. I then initiated the traffic stop with other officers close to my location.

The driver, later identified as Mr. Jose Terga, exited the vehicle and I asked him how the vehicle got the damage and he stated that this was previous damage and did not occur on 02/15/2026. I demanded his license and he complied. I then explained the reason for the stop being a hit and run. He stated that he had traveled to the traffic stop location from Wal-Mart on Pooler Parkway.

I then continued to get his statement and he remembered that he was at 246 Pooler Parkway at the “Nothing Bundt Cakes” bakery. He stated that he pulled into the location attempting to find a parking spot but he couldn’t. He stated that he then exited the parking lot and traveled south on Pooler Parkway in continuation until the traffic stop. I observed vehicle damage all around the vehicle and was advised that the damage should be located at the front right area of the vehicle based on witness statements. There is paint transfer that matches the victim’s vehicle on the passenger door and the front right area of the vehicle near the headlight/fog light.

That is when OFC. Davis and APO Schmitt arrested Mr. Terga. I conducted an inventory of the vehicle. Nothing of note was observed. I stayed on scene with the vehicle until Sapp’s Towing had removed the vehicle.

[End of Narrative]