Name:
Smith, Justin Perez
Date of Booking:
09/07/2023
Reason(s) For Booking:
VGCSA SCH 1/2 NARCOTIC POSSESSION
POSSESSION OF FIREARM OR KNIFE DURING COMMISSION OF OR ATTES
OPEN CONTAINER IN PASSENGER AREA OF VEHICLE IN OPERATION
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 09/07/2023 at approximately 1927 hrs I, Deputy Bufano, initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle which resulted in the arrest of Justin Smith.
I was patrolling the area of Jackson St and Clark St when I observed a Dodge Charger traveling beside my patrol car on the driver side. The vehicle did not have a registration plate affixed to the rear, it appeared that the plate was recently taken off because there was an outline of dirt around where the tag used to be.
I initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle by activating my emergency equipment (blue lights) as we turned left onto Jackson St, heading toward downtown Newnan. The vehicle came to a stop on the far-right portion of the roadway. I approached the vehicle on the passenger side and came into contact with the driver, Justin Smith. I advised him of the reason for the traffic stop and asked for his ID, which he handed me. While in contact with Smith I smelled the strong odor of marijuana and an alcoholic beverage coming from inside the vehicle. I know this to be based on my knowledge, training and experience. On the front passenger seat, partially covered by a piece of paper, I observed what I believed to be an alcoholic beverage container that contained a small portion of a clear liquid.
NPD Ofc A. Smith arrived on scene and I advised Smith of the reason for the traffic stop. He advised his wife had taken the tag off of the vehicle because he was always working, which made no sense to me. But then he advised he and his son were just driving around, his son was behind him in another Dodge Charger at the time I initiated the traffic stop on Smith.
I had Smith step out of the vehicle and standby with Ofc Smith while I conducted a search of the vehicle. Per a search of the vehicle in the front passenger side area of the car I located under an ounce of cocaine in two cigarette packs, I know this to be cocaine based on my knowledge, training and experience. Also I swabbed the drugs and with a Mobile Detect drug ID test kit, the test showed positive for cocaine first, after sitting for a few minutes it showed positive for fentanyl.
I also located 3 opened and partially full Stroyski vodka bottles in the front passenger seat area of the vehicle, along with another larger vodka bottle under the front passenger seat. There was also a clear cup in the front driver cupholder that was partially full of a clear alcoholic beverage.
A loaded Jimenez Arms .380 firearm was also located in the center console of vehicle. On 03/25/2023 Smith was arrested for cocaine possession in Coweta County and is out on Bond. Smith was placed under arrest and transported to the Coweta County Jail, when he was at the jail being booked in he told Detention officer D. Ball that all he had in the vehicle was personal use cocaine.
The registered owner, [REDACTED] arrived on scene to take possession of the vehicle. She stated she told Smith she did not want him driving her vehicle so she took the registration plate off of the car but he took it anyway. Also, she asked if I located a Jimenez arms firearm in the vehicle and I told her I did. She stated the gun was in her truck that she owns and she noticed earlier today that it was missing from the truck, she believed Smith took it but was not sure.
The firearm was given back to [REDACTED] and she took possession of the vehicle and left the scene. I then went to the sheriff’s office to take out charges on Smith and place the cocaine into evidence.
[End of Narrative]