Lasha Russell

Name:
Russell, Lasha Santana

Date of Booking:
06/20/2026

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

OBEDIENCE TO REQUIRED TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICE

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 06/20/2026 I was patrolling the area of E Hwy 34 and Chatsworth P1 in my marked patrol vehicle, when I observed a light-colored passenger vehicle fail to stop at the stop sign while making a left hand turn onto E Hwy 34 from Chatsworth P1. I got behind the vehicle and observed it had GA registration [REDACTED], and that the vehicle was a Hyundai Sonata. I activated my emergency equipment and conducted a traffic stop on said vehicle. As the driver went to pull the vehicle over, she missed the entrance to the BP gas station, and performed a u-turn driving into the exit way of the gas station, and came to a stop in the parking lot.

I conducted a driver’s side approach on the vehicle, and identified myself as a Deputy with Coweta County and advised the driver of the reason for the stop. I then asked her to hand me her driver’s license, which identified her as Lasha Russell. I asked Ms. Russell where she was coming from, and she responded “A party.” I then asked her if she had consumed any alcoholic beverages tonight, and she said “Just a little, not too much.” I then asked her how much would she say that amount is, and he replied “Just a cup.”

I then asked Ms. Russell to step out of her vehicle, and brought her to the front of my patrol vehicle. I explained to her that due to her driving, and her admitting to having an alcoholic beverage, if she would submit to Standardized Field Sobriety Testing to ensure she was safe to drive, which she agreed to. I asked her if she had any head injuries, or any bodily injuries that would keep her from conducting the evaluations, and she stated no.

I had her face me, stand with her feet together and put her hands at her side. I then used a pen as a stimulus, placing it approx. 12 to 15 inches away from her eyes, slightly above, and asked her if she could see it. She stated yes. I then instructed her to follow my stimulus with her eyes, and her eyes only, keeping her head straight while I checked her eyes. Both pupils were the same size, she did not have resting nystagmus and when moving the stimulus side to side on a horizontal plain, she was able to track the movement in both eyes equally. I observed her eyes to be watery and bloodshot, and she had to be reminded to not move her head while following my stimulus. I then began the test for Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus. The results are as follows.

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus:

Starting with her right eye, Ms. Russell showed lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes. While performing the evaluation, she moved her head along with her eyes multiple times. Ms. Russell also had distinct and sustained nystagmus in both eyes. I also observed her to have onset nystagmus prior to 45 degrees in both eyes. I did not observed Vertical Gaze Nystagmus on Ms. Russell. 6 out of 6 clues observed.

Walk and Turn:

I asked Ms. Russell to stand with her feet together and her arms at her side. I then asked her to imagine a straight line with her left foot, and explained that the line couldn’t be any wider than her left foot. I instructed her to place her left foot on that line once she had imagined it. I then instructed her to place her right foot in front of her left foot heel to toe, and to hold that position until I told her to move. I then went to explain the evaluation. I observed Ms. Russell place her right foot back approx. should width apart, before getting back in the starting position.

While I was explaining the next part of the evaluation, Ms. Russell began walking. I told her that I hadn’t told her to start yet, and that she needed to go back to the starting position. Once she did, I explained the evaluation in full, while demonstrating for her. I took three steps for demonstration, but explained that she would take nine heel to toe steps, take a series of small steps to turn around, then take nine more heel to toe steps and come back to the start. I explained that as she took her steps she needed to look down at her feet, keep her arms at her side, and count the steps as she made them.

Ms. Russell was unable to keep her balance multiple times while I explained the evaluation. I then asked her if she understood, which she replied “Yes.” I the had her begin the evaluation. On the first set of nine steps, I observed Ms. Russell miss heel to toe, step of line, and take the incorrect amount of steps. Ms. Russell also did not perform the turn correctly. On her return nine steps, I observed her miss heel to toe on each step. She also used her arms for balance. 7 out of 8 clues observed.

One Legged Stand:

I then had Ms. Russel stand with her feet together and arms down at her side while I explained this evaluation. I explained that she could use which ever leg she chooses to stand on. I then told her that she needed to raise one leg up approx. 6 inches of the ground. I then explained that she needed to look at her foot, keep her hands at her side and count out loud “one thousand one, one thousand two, on thousand three” in that fashion until I told her to stop.

I asked her if she understood the instructions, and she stated yes. I then told her to begin. Ms. Russell chose to stand on her right leg, and raise her left leg. While conducting the evaluation, I observed Ms. Russell sway for balance, raise her arms, and poot her foot down multiple times. Ms. Russell did not attempt to count out loud during the prescribed 30 seconds. 3 out of 4 clues observed.

I then asked Ms. Russell if she would be willing to blow into a PBT to confirm or dispel the presence of alcohol. She agreed to do so. The PBT resulted in a positive reading for alcohol (.166). I then placed Ms. Russell under arrest for suspected DUI, placing her in handcuffs to the rear, checking for proper fit and double locking for safety. I then escorted her the rear seat of my patrol vehicle, and placed her inside. I then read her Implied Consent from my green GA Implied Consent card, and asked her if she would submit to the state chemical testing of her blood which she agreed. Ms. Russell was transported to Coweta County Fire Station 6, and her blood was drawn by Paramedic [REDACTED].

Ms. Russell was then transported to the Coweta County Jail, and turned over to jail staff without incident. Her vehicle was towed by Caswell’s. I submitted the GBI Blood Urine Kit into Evidence.

[End of Narrative]