Samuel Dillard

Name:
Dillard, Samuel Joseph

Date of Booking:
08/03/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

AGGRESSIVE DRIVING

WEAVING OVER ROADWAY

POINTING OR AIMING GUN OR PISTOL AT ANOTHER

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 8/4/2025 I was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident on Ga. Hwy 21 near Ralph Rahn Rd. Upon my arrival I made contact with Samuel Dillard, DOB: [REDACTED BY AGENCY]/1990, who had been driving a black 2018 Nissan Murano with a Ga. tag [REDACTED] that he had now parked in the median of Hwy 21. The second vehicle, a 2008 Toyota Rav4 with a Ga. tag of [REDACTED], was parked some distance away and only approached again once I arrived on scene.

Dillard explained that he was driving on 21 when the vehicle in front of him cut him off. Dillard stated that he flashed his high beams at the vehicle and the driver of the other vehicle “brake checked” him in response. Dillard explained that when he saw the other vehicle’s brake lights he swerved to avoid rear ending them and side swiped them in the process.

At this time Cpl. Hutto arrived on scene and contacted the driver of the Rav4, [VICTIM #1], DOB: [REDACTED BY AGENCY]/1992. [VICTIM #1]’s account matched Dillard’s but added that Dillard had first cut off [VICTIM #1], prompting [VICTIM #1] to cut off Dillard in return. [VICTIM #1] also explained to Cpl. Hutto that he had left the scene because he believed he had heard a gunshot immediately prior to the collision but returned once law enforcement arrived and he felt safe to return.

[VICTIM #1] was cited for aggressive driving and allowed to leave while I worked on citations for Dillard. A short while later I was informed that [VICTIM #1] had made contact with Sgt. West at the Love’s truck stop on 21 and Rahn Station where he informed West that he had located a bullet hole in his vehicle while inspecting the damage from the collision. Sgt. West, upon seeing the bullet hole for himself, directed me via radio to hold Dillard at the scene. Sgt. West further discovered that the bullet had struck [VICTIM #1] in his back but had slowed enough after passing through [VICTIM #1]’s vehicle that it did not penetrate and only left a red mark and a small bruise.

At this time I was in the process of providing Dillard with his citations, one for aggressive driving and one for failure to maintain lane. Dillard heard the radio transmission ordering that he not be allowed to leave and began to nervously shift in his seat. At this time I asked Dillard if he had any firearms in the vehicle and he stated that he had a gun but hadn’t fired it. When asked where the gun was Dillard stated that it was in the back seat in his lunch box.

At this time Cpl. Hutto returned to the scene and Dillard was ordered out of his vehicle. Dillard exited and was escorted to the hood of my car where he was frisked for weapons. Once no firearm was recovered from Dillard’s person Cpl. Hutto began a search of Dillard’s vehicle for the weapon. The search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a Springfield XDS .45 caliber handgun and a spent .45 caliber shell casing.

Upon the recovery of the weapon and shell casing Dillard was placed under arrest and placed in the back of my patrol car. Further examination of the firearm revealed that its 6 round magazine only contained 5 rounds of PMC hollow points, consistent with the empty casing discovered by Cpl. Hutto.

At this time Cpl. Hutto requested that I retrieve the keys for the vehicle to try to raise the front passenger window. I removed Dillard from my vehicle and retrieved the keys from his pocket. While this was occurring Dillard freely stated that he had made a mistake and he never meant for the gun to go off. He stated that he grabbed it, referring to the act as stupid, and insisted that the gun went off during the collision. I remarked that there were several rules to gun safety and for something like this to have happened Dillard would have had to break multiple of them. Dillard agreed and again remarked on how stupid his actions were. Once the keys were retrieved Dillard was placed back in my car.

I returned to Dillard’s vehicle and attempted to raise the passenger window but was unable to bring it up enough to discern for certain whether or not it had been struck by a bullet. The cracking that was visible on the window appeared to be consistent with a bullet passing through, but the damage could also have been from the collision and would need to be examined further by CID.

At this time Dillard’s sister approached my car requesting to speak with her brother as Cpl. Hutto had just explained to her why Dillard had been arrested. I rolled down my rear window and allowed them to converse. During the conversation with his sister Dillard again admitted to grabbing the gun and lifting it towards the other car, still maintaining that he never intended for the gun to discharge.

Following the conversation with his sister, Dillard was transported to the Effingham County Jail and booked. Meanwhile Cpl. Hutto and Sgt. West remained with both vehicles until they could be collected by Smith’s and transported to the ECSO impound lot to be examined by CID.

[End of Narrative]