Leah Colquitt

Name:
Colquitt, Leah

Date of Booking:
09/02/2022

Reason(s) For Booking:
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE ALCOHOL

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 September 01, 2022]

On September 1, 2022, I responded to Nuevos Amigos Cocina Mexicana, located at 3740 Sixes Road, Canton, GA 30114 in reference to a pedestrian who was struck by an auto. I arrived on scene where Cherokee Fire was speaking with victim, [VICTIM #1]. I could see [VICTIM #1] was sitting on the ground and his knee was scuffed. [VICTIM #1] was alert and talking.

I could observe [VICTIM #1] had a flushed face, bloodshot watery eyes and appeared to be intoxicated. [VICTIM #1] was yelling that the truck in the parking lot had hit him. [VICTIM #1] identified a lifted black Ford SRW (GA Tag #[REDACTED]) by pointing at it. [VICTIM #1] remained with Cherokee Fire/EMS and denied to be transported by them to the Hospital.

Inside the driver seat of the Ford truck, I met with the driver, Leah Colquitt. Leah was in the driver seat and her truck was running. Inside the truck Leah’s dog was in the back seat. I asked Leah what happened today and Leah stated she was leaving the restaurant and making a left turn in the parking lot. Leah said she saw someone and slammed on her brakes.

While speaking with Leah I observed she had blood shot watery eyes and her breath smelled of alcoholic beverages. I asked Leah if she had anything to drink tonight and Leah stated she had 1 margarita. Leah said she was inside the restaurant with her friends at approximately 7 PM.

I met with restaurant owners, [WITNESS #1] and [WITNESS #2]. [WITNESS #1] showed me video surveillance of Leah striking [VICTIM #1]. In the video I could see Leah was making a left turn in the parking lot. [VICTIM #1] is walking in the parking lot and Leah collides with him. Leah comes to a sudden stop. [WITNESS #1] later provided me with videos of the incident.

I asked Leah if she would perform evaluations to ensure she was safe to drive. Leah agreed. I conducted the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Evaluation. Prior to beginning the evaluation, I checked Leah’s eyes. I observed both her pupils were equal in size. I did not observe resting nystagmus. Leah stated she did not wear contacts or glasses. I asked Leah if she took any medications and Leah stated she did not. During this evaluation I observed the following clues.

-Leah had lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes.
-Leah had distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation in both eyes.

I then performed the walk and turn evaluation. I instructed and demonstrated to Leah on how to properly perform the evaluation. I observed the following clues.

-Leah could not balance during the instructions phase. Leah broke her stance multiple times by stepping off line. Leah was asked repeatedly to assume her position.
-Leah attempted to start the evaluation too soon without being instructed to start multiple times.
-Leah stepped off line multiple times while walking.
-Leah took an improper number of steps while walking.
-Leah used her arms for balance while walking.
-Leah made an improper turn.

I then performed the one leg stand evaluation. I instructed and demonstrated to Leah on how to properly perform the evaluation. During this evaluation Leah failed to follow instructions and failed to count out loud as instructed. I observed the following clues.

-Leah used her arms for balance.
-Leah swayed from left to right while balancing.

Following these evaluations I asked Leah if she would provide a breath sample of her breath. Leah agreed and blew into a preliminary breath tester (PBT) Leah’s breath tested positive for alcohol. Based on Leah’s driving, her physical manifestations, her admissions, my observations and evaluations, it was my belief that Leah was a less safe driver under the influence of alcohol.

I informed Leah she was under arrest for DUI. I placed Leah in handcuffs, checking for proper fit and ensuring they were double locked. I read Leah the Georgia Implied consent notice for suspects age 21 or over. I asked Leah if she would submit to the state administered chemical test of her blood. Leah replied with no.

I walked Leah to my back seat of my patrol car. I allowed Leah to contact family and friends to come pick up her dog and truck from the parking lot. [REDACTED] arrived on scene and picked up Leah’s dog. [REDACTED] was unable to pick up the truck. [WITNESS #1] and [WITNESS #2] stated It was okay for Leah’s vehicle to be parked in a parking space.

I asked Leah if I could park her vehicle and she stated I could. I parked Leah’s vehicle. I retrieved Leah’s purse, wallet and keys which were in plain sight in the truck. I brought them towards my patrol car to place into Leah’s property at the Jail. Leah’s truck was locked.

I searched Leah’s purse search incident to arrest and I located a black, Glock 43, 9mm, serial #BFXG470 pistol in her purse. The pistol was loaded with (7) 9mm rounds and secured inside a black nylon holster. Also located in the purse I located a bottle of Lorazepam 0.5 mg prescribed to Leah. It was known to me that Lorazepam is a CNS depressant which can also possess the ability to impair a driver.

I transported Leah to the Bridgemill Precinct. Once at the precinct I brought Leah inside and I informed Leah I was going to apply for a search warrant for 2 vials of her blood. I obtained a signed search warrant from Judge Carson for 2 vials of blood to be drawn from Leah. I provided Leah with a copy of the search warrant. Leah complied with the search warrant.

Cherokee Fire/EMS was called to perform the blood draw. I provided EMT [REDACTED] with a sealed GBI blood alcohol/toxicology kit. EMT [REDACTED] performed the blood draw without incident. EMT [REDACTED] sealed the 2 vials of blood obtained from Leah into the GBI blood alcohol/toxicology kit. EMT [REDACTED] provided me with a sealed GBI blood alcohol/toxicology kit containing 2 vials of Leah’s blood.

I transported Leah to the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center without incident. Once at the jail I surrendered Leah and all her property to Jail Deputies. I cited Leah for DUI (279520). I served Leah with a DDS1205. Prior to returning to duty I conducted a search of my back seat for contraband or weapons and none were found. Photos and Video evidence was sent to the Solicitors Office. The GBI blood alcohol/toxicology kit was placed into evidence for storage and testing. The Glock 43 pistol and its accessories were placed into evidence for safe keeping and storage.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on September 01, 2022]

On September 1, 2022, at approximately 9:00 pm, I responded to 3740 Sixes Road as a backup unit to a person hit by an automobile.

I arrived on the scene, Cpl. McClure requested I stand by with one of the males involved in the incident, later identified as [VICTIM #1]. [VICTIM #1] was intoxicated and agitated with the incident. [VICTIM #1] was sitting on the ground behind his vehicle while being evaluated by Cherokee County Fire Personnel. [VICTIM #1] refused any further medical treatment from fire personnel on the scene.

I collected [VICTIM #1]’s information for the report. [VICTIM #1] began to stand up, and I requested [VICTIM #1] stay seated while the investigation took place. [VICTIM #1] understood and remained seated. [VICTIM #1] continued to ask questions, and all were answered. [VICTIM #1] asked if he could stand; I advised him for the duration of the incident to please stay seated.

I did not want [VICTIM #1] getting up and getting into a confrontation with staff or the suspect in this case. [VICTIM #1] stood up and attempted to walk away. I grabbed [VICTIM #1]’s right upper arm and asked him to have a seat. [VICTIM #1] told me to let go of his arm. I explained to [VICTIM #1] he needed to have a seat. [VICTIM #1] began to sit and requested I let go of his arm. I let go of [VICTIM #1]’s arm as he was sitting.

[VICTIM #1] request a supervisor come to talk with him. I advised Cpl. McClure of the request, and he was clear about the situation. [VICTIM #1] asked for my badge number, which I gave to him. [VICTIM #1] began to record the interaction on his phone. I remained with [VICTIM #1] until relieved of my duty. Cpl. McClure arrived at my location to speak with [VICTIM #1].

I relocated to Deputy Gavina, who requested I move to the suspect’s vehicle with the owner’s permission to allow the fire trucks to leave the scene. I remained with Deputy Gavina until the conclusion of the incident. The information I collected on the scene was turned over to Deputy Gavina for the case report.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #3 on September 02, 2022]

On September, 2, 2022, business owners of Nuevos Amigos Cocina Mexicana provided additional video surveillance of September 1, 2022. In one video you can observe victim, [VICTIM #1], running to his Jeep Gladiator after the business was closed. The front gates of Nuevos’ Amigos Cocina Mexicana is closed which prevents access to the parking lot. [VICTIM #1] drives his Jeep Gladiator off a hill and onto sixes road. Several loud thumps and scraping can be heard suggesting [VICTIM #1] crashed his vehicle. [VICTIM #1] can then be seen driving away onto Sixes Road.

I returned to the business to check for damage. I observed tire marks on the grass that lead down the hill and to a retaining wall that was approximately 3 feet tall. The Jeep appears to have driven off the ledge and onto the sidewalk and then into the roadway. No damage was noted to the retaining wall, sidewalk or property of Nuevos Amigos.

[End of Narrative]