Nicklas Pona

Name:
Pona, Nicklas Antonyo

Date of Booking:
10/16/2025

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

Following Too Closely – 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 10/16/2025, I was on Uniformed Patrol in the city of Port Wentworth, Ga. in Chatham County. At approximately 19:45 hours, I responded with my lights and siren to Hodgeville Rd/Highway 30 for a hit and run with injuries. An accident report was made for the hit and run (251016069). In the CAD notes, it stated that a dark color Cadillac Escalade was seen leaving the scene. With the help of Corporal Siar and Sergeant Green, we were able to find the location of the driver by using the Flock Camera System.

At approximately 20:56 hours, I relocated to [100 BLOCK] Scuffletown Rd, Guyton, Georgia 31312. Upon arrival, I made contact with a White male who would later be identified as Nicklas Pona. Pona was asked if he was near the area where the accident occurred. Pona stated that he was not in the area, he stated that he was at Dollar General when the accident occurred.

Pona stated that he had a receipt stating that he was not in the area but could not find it. Pona was informed that we were able to find him with our Flock Camera System, but he kept denying he was not in the area. Pona stated that it was not his vehicle that was in the area, he stated that there are many other vehicles like his that go through Hodgeville Rd/Highway 30.

While speaking to Pona, I observed body damage on the vehicle indicated that he was involved in the accident. There were pieces of plastic body panel that was stuck in the front grill that came from the victim’s vehicle. While looking at the front grill I saw pieces of black shattered glass behind the grill.

At approximately 21:18 hours, Pona was arrested for Hit and Run; Duty of driver to stop or return to scene of accident and Following too Closely. Due to the totality of the circumstances which were, Pona was leaving the scene and Flock was able to show the path he took after he left the scene, the vehicle body damage, and the victim’s black shattered glass being behind his grill.

Pona was instructed to turn around and place his hands behind his back, which would be changed to the front due to having shoulder surgery. The handcuffs were placed in the front, checked for fitness, and double locked. I then searched Pona, and he had necklaces, a pinky ring, and a cellphone on his personnel. After being searched Pona was placed in the backseat of my marked patrol vehicle and secured with a seatbelt for transport. The rear seat of my vehicle was checked prior to and after transport.

Before going to jail, Pona was transported to Memorial Hospital to be medically cleared due to being involved in the hit and run accident. After being cleared, Pona was transported and booked into the Chatham County Detention Center.

[End of Narrative]