Bobby Hickman

Name:
Hickman, Bobby Ray

Date of Booking:
07/26/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI / ALCOHOL / LESS SAFE

FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SINGLE LANE

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 26, 2026, at approximately 0033 hours, I, Deputy Matt Wilson, was on routine patrol in Lyerly. I observed an orange 2017 Jeep Renegade traveling northbound before turning right onto Lyerly Dam Road. The driver’s side window tint appeared to be excessively dark and in violation of Georgia law. I turned onto Lyerly Dam Road to locate the vehicle.

After locating the vehicle, I observed it struggling to maintain its lane of travel. The vehicle failed to maintain its lane on numerous occasions by crossing over the double yellow centerline. At one point, the vehicle crossed completely into the opposing lane of travel and continued driving in the wrong lane for a short distance. Based on my observations, the driver was operating the vehicle in a careless and reckless manner.

I conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle near the intersection of Lyerly Dam Road and Lon Reynolds Drive. I approached the driver’s side window and made contact with the driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle. I advised him that the reason for the traffic stop was his reckless driving and repeated failure to maintain his lane. I requested his driver’s license, which he provided. The driver was identified as Bobby Hickman.

While speaking with Bobby, I detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath. I advised him that I could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage and asked if he had been consuming alcohol. Bobby stated that he had consumed four Bud Light beers.

While conducting a DUI investigation, I observed several indicators of impairment. Bobby’s face appeared flushed and pale, his eyes were bloodshot, and his speech was thick and slurred. I asked Bobby to exit the vehicle, and he complied. I advised him that I wanted to examine his eyes, and he consented. I instructed him to walk to the front of my patrol vehicle, and he complied.

I then turned off my front blue emergency lights to prevent them from interfering with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) evaluation. When I turned back toward Bobby, I observed him leaning against the push bumper of my patrol vehicle as though he was having difficulty maintaining his balance and was using the vehicle for support.

I advised him I was going to conduct some standarized field sobreity test on him.

I first administered the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. I explained the instructions and asked if he understood, and he stated that he did.

Subject displayed equal pupil size.
Subject displayed lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes, indicating 2 clues.
Subject displayed distinct and sustained Nystagmus at maximum deviation, indicating 2 clues.
Subject displayed onset of Nystagmus prior to 45 degrees, indicating 2 clues.
Subject displayed vertical Nystagmus, indicating impairment.

The subject displayed 6 out of 6 clues on the HGN test. While conducting this test I observed Bobby stuggled to stand up as he would rock back and forth.

I then advised Bobby that the second test would be the Walk-and-Turn test. I instructed him to stand on the straight yellow line while I explained and demonstrated the instructional phase of the test. After completing the instructions, I asked if he understood, and he stated that he did.

Subject missed heel-to-toe on several steps during both sets of the nine-step walk.
Subject stepped off the line during the first set of nine steps and second nine steps
Subject lost balance and did a imporper turn
Subject came out of position during instructional phase
Subject did 8 steps when during the second phase of the 9 heel to toe steps
The subject displayed 5 out of 8 clues on the Walk-and-Turn test.

I then advised Bobby that the final test would be the One-Leg Stand test. I explained and demonstrated the instructions and asked if he understood. Hhe stated that he did. I asked if he had any medical conditions that would prevent him from performing the test, and he stated that he did not.

Subject put his foot down several times.
Subject swayed while balancing.
Subject was hopping.

The subject displayed 3 out of 4 clues on the One-Leg Stand test. Subject did not complete the test as he kept putting his foot down and stopping.

I then asked Bobby if he would provide a breath sample using my roadside Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) device. He agreed to do so. Bobby attempted the test twice but did not provide a sufficient breath sample on either attempt. On his third attempt, Bobby provided an adequate breath sample, which indicated a positive result of 0.14 grams.

Based on my observations and the indicators of impairment I observed throughout the DUI investigation, I placed Bobby under arrest for Driving Under the Influence. I read Georgia’s Implied Consent Notice for suspects age 21 or over requesting a state-administered blood test. Bobby refused the state-administered blood test.

I allowed Bobby to contact someone to retrieve his vehicle. [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] responded to the scene and took possession of the vehicle with Bobby’s permission.

Deputy Adam Dawson, who was also on scene, transported Bobby to the Chattooga County Jail on my behalf.

I returned to the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office and completed the appropriate charging documents and an Administrative License Suspension (ALS) form. I then went to the jail and served Bobby with the ALS form.

After completing all required paperwork, I returned to service without further incident.

[End of Narrative]