Amanda Hitchcock

Name:
Hitchcock, Amanda

Date of Booking:
08/24/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI – 0.08G/ PER SE 21 OR OLDER

OPEN CONTAINER ALCOHOL IN VEHICLE

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 August 24, 2025, I was dispatched to a call about an elderly female jogging at night in the Eagle Watch subdivision. The caller believed the female had dementia and was lost.

I made contact with the female at Eagle Watch Drive and Beechwood Lane. The female was being followed by a golf cart with 3 juvenile girls and 1 adult female. I spoke with the female jogger and realized she did not have dementia. She could tell me her address, and I recognized her as someone I often see jogging at night. The female returned to her walk.

The driver of the golf cart, later identified as Amanda Hitchcock, was upset about me not detaining the female jogger. I explained to her that the jogger was able to tell me where she lived and that I recognized her. Amanda was still upset, claiming I did not do my job. I was on the passenger side of the golf cart when speaking with Amanda. I detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage while speaking with her, but due to being on the passenger side of the golf cart I could not be sure where the odor was coming from. Amanda drove away and continued to follow the elderly female, stating she would make sure she got home safe.

I returned to my vehicle and cleared myself from the call. I continued to sit at the intersection momentarily. Amanda drove back to the intersection and started to yell at me because she believed I was not doing my job correctly. I drove my patrol car up to Amanda to ask her why she was yelling and explain that I was familiar with the female jogging. While stepping out of my vehicle, I noticed in the cup holder of the golf cart an open can of alcohol. This time I was on the driver side of the golf cart and could strongly smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Amanda’s breath as she spoke. I questioned Amanda about the container due to her driving and having 3 juveniles on the golf cart with her.

I asked Amanda if she had been drinking and she at first said no. When I pointed out the open container, she stated she had that hours ago. By looking at the container, I could see the condensation on the can showing it was cold, and that it was full. Amanda continued to explain that she was just helping the woman. Amanda stated she was at an adult pool party earlier in the night.

I questioned Amanda more about her alcohol consumption. She stated her last drink was at 10:30 PM. Amanda said she had a couple of drinks, and they were Truly’s. One of the juvenile’s mothers showed up on scene. When she got out of the vehicle, she asked what was happening. Amanda told her, “I’m about to get a DUI.” Amanda kept repeating that she was in the middle of a divorce case, so she didn’t need any of this. Amanda stated the pool party ended at 10, and after the pool party she headed home. She received a call from the juveniles about the elderly female, so she got in her golf cart to help.

I asked Amanda if she would be willing to perform voluntary field evaluations, and she agreed.

I conducted the horizontal gaze nystagmus evaluation. I explained the evaluation before beginning, and Amanda said she understood my instructions. Amanda said she did not wear contacts. She did not have any head injuries. I utilized a pen light as my stimulus. I checked for equal pupil size, no resting nystagmus, and equal tracking before beginning. During the evaluation, I observed the following clues:

• Lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes.
• Distinct and sustained nystagmus in both eyes.

Observation: During the evaluation Amanda swayed uncontrollably, from side to side and front to back.

Next, I explained and demonstrated the Walk and Turn evaluation to Amanda. Amanda stated she understood the instructions. During the evaluation I observed the following clues:

Instruction phase:

• Breaks starting stance
• Starts too soon

Walking phase:

• Misses heel to toe
• Steps offline
• Incorrect number of steps

Observations: Amanda had to be reminded numerous times to remain in the starting stance. Amanda attempted to start the evaluation too soon multiple times. Amanda started the evaluation in the incorrect position, resulting in her taking the wrong number of steps.

Next, I explained and demonstrated the One Leg Stand evaluation to Amanda. Amanda stated she understood the instructions. During the evaluation I observed the following clues:

• Sways
• Uses arms for balance
• Puts foot down
• Hops

Observations: Amanda miscounted multiple times, Amanda also quit doing the evaluations before being told to stop.

After the evaluation I asked Amanda if she would be willing to provide a breath sample on the hand held Alco-Sensor. Amanda refused.

At this time, based on the clues and observations during the evaluations and observations while speaking with Amanda that she was under the influence of alcohol. I placed Amanda under arrest, placing her in handcuffs, checking for proper fit, and double-locking them. I placed Amanda in the back seat of my patrol car. I read Amanda the Georgia Implied Consent for suspects over the age of 21 from implied consent card DDS-354 05/2019 placed into service on 12/29/2024. She agreed to the state administered chemical test of her blood.

Deputy Miller and Deputy Jones talked to the mother of the juveniles that were on the golf cart. They got the ages of all the juveniles and they were all over the age of 14. Amanda agreed to have her neighbor [REDACTED] take her golf cart home. I asked Amanda if anyone was at home with her children. She stated their father was home with them. I went and grabbed the alcoholic beverage in the cup holder of the golf cart. The can was a Limaveza Lime Lager (4.5 Alcohol by Volume). The can was cold to the touch and wet with condensation the can had alcohol still inside. The alcohol was poured out and the can was later thrown away in the trash at the jail.

I transported Amanda to the Cherokee County ADC. Upon arrival, jail staff took custody of Amanda. No contraband was found in the back seat of my patrol car after transport. I saw Amanda hold out her right arm and allowed Deputy Miller, who is a certified phlebotomist, to draw her blood at 02:03 AM. Deputy Miller placed the tubes of blood in the GBI blood kit and sealed them. The blood kit was placed into evidence (ECR-25-01580).

After completing the necessary paperwork, I left the jail and returned to service. Amanda was booked on citations for 40-6-391 DUI(S-024869) and 40-6-253 Open Container in vehicle(S-024870).

[End of Narrative]