Kandi Keener

Name:
Keener, Kandi Lynn

Date of Booking:
09/04/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE

Failure to maintain lane

DUI – Driving under the influence of drugs

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 04, 2026]

On September 4, 2026, I, PFC Roden, was patrolling the area of Shorter Avenue near Kirton Street when I observed a vehicle bearing Georgia license plate [REDACTED] traveling eastbound in the inside lane of Shorter Avenue. I observed the vehicle having difficulty maintaining its lane of travel and crossing the solid center line several times.

The vehicle then turned left onto Kirton Street, right onto Johnson Street, and right onto Watson Street. The vehicle then pulled into the driveway of [100 BLOCK] Watson Street and immediately turned off. Based on the driver’s actions, it appeared that she was aware of my presence behind her. I continued a short distance up Watson Street to a location where I could still observe the vehicle. After a brief period of time, the vehicle was started again and pulled back onto Watson Street toward Shorter Avenue.

Based on my observations of the vehicle failing to maintain its lane, along with the driver’s actions after becoming aware of my presence, I determined that facts and circumstances existed that would lead a reasonable and prudent law enforcement officer to believe that the driver may be operating the vehicle under the influence of an intoxicating substance. I activated my emergency lights and siren and conducted a traffic stop on Watson Street just before Shorter Avenue.

Upon approaching the vehicle, I asked the driver what she had been doing at the residence on Watson Street. She stated that she had stopped there to give her sister, [REDACTED], some money. I asked if [REDACTED] was currently at the residence, and she stated that she was. I then requested that Officer Valentine check the residence to verify Ms. [REDACTED]’s presence. Officer Valentine advised that no one was at the residence.

The driver was identified as Kandi Keener. After determining that the information Ms. Keener provided was false, I asked her to exit the vehicle so I could speak with her further. I explained to Ms. Keener that I knew her sister was not at the residence and told her that she needed to be honest with me. Ms. Keener stated that she was scared because she knew I was behind her.

I asked Ms. Keener if there was anything illegal inside the vehicle and requested consent to search it. She responded, “There’s no reason to.” I explained that I was not asking whether there was a reason to search the vehicle, but whether she would consent to a search. I again encouraged Ms. Keener to be honest with me.

Ms. Keener then admitted that there was a pipe containing methamphetamine residue and a baggie containing methamphetamine residue inside the vehicle. Based on Ms. Keener’s admission, I determined that probable cause existed to search the vehicle.

I then asked Ms. Keener when she had last smoked methamphetamine. She admitted that she had smoked methamphetamine a few hours prior. Due to Ms. Keener having recently used methamphetamine and subsequently operated a motor vehicle, I requested PFC Falcitelli respond to the scene to conduct a DUI investigation.

Following his investigation and testing, PFC Falcitelli determined that Ms. Keener was under the influence and placed her under arrest. See PFC Falcitelli’s narrative for further details regarding the DUI investigation.

During the probable cause search of the vehicle, officers located a glass smoking device containing suspected methamphetamine residue and a baggie containing suspected methamphetamine beneath the driver’s seat, consistent with the location provided by Ms. Keener. The smoking device and methamphetamine were deposited in the temporary evidence room at the Rome Police Department.

Ms. Keener was transported to the Floyd County Jail.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on September 04, 2026]

On Friday September 4, 2026 at approximately 03:32 hours I, PFC Falcitelli, was dispatched to assist PFC Roden on his traffic stop with a vehicle (2013 Tan Toyota Scion XB GA [REDACTED]) on Watson St near Shorter Ave. While en route I was advised that PFC Roden had located methamphetamine under the driver seat.

Upon my arrival PFC Roden advised me that the driver (Kandi Keener) had admitted to smoking methamphetamine at approximately 00:00 hours. I then spoke to Ms. Keener. When I asked Ms. Keener about the Methamphetamine she stated she had smoked it at approximately 23:30 hours due to stress from her job. She also advised she had smoked it from a pipe. While speaking with Ms. Keener I observed she had trouble standing still, seemed extremely anxious, and would exaggerate her movements (flailing her arms).

I then asked Ms. Keener if she would participate in a Standardized Field Sobriety test which she then consented to do so. I then proceeded to explain the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test to Ms. Keener which she stated she understood. During the testing phase no clues were observed, but I did observe Ms. Keener’s pupils were dilated. I then proceeded to explain the Walk and Turn test to Ms. Keener, which she stated she understood.

During the walking phase I observed Ms. Keener stop while walking, miss heel to toe, step off the line, and use her arms for balance for a total of four clues. I then proceeded to explain the One Leg Stand test to Ms. Keener, which she stated she understood. During the balance and counting phase I observed Ms. Keener sway and put her foot down (three times) for a total of two clues.

I then proceeded to explain to the Modified Romberg Balance test to Ms. Keener which she stated she understood. During the testing phase I observed Ms. Keener’s body sway in a circular motion, exhibit eyelid tremors and estimate the passage of 30 seconds as 34 seconds, but also observed she did not follow instructions as she was quietly counting aloud.

I then asked Ms. Keener if she would provide a sample of her breath into my preliminary breath testing device, which she consented to, and provided a sample negative for alcohol (.000). During the course of all of these events I determined Ms. Keener to be less safe to operate a motor vehicle.

At approximately 03:50 hours I placed Ms. Keener under arrest, placed handcuffs on her person, and searched her incident to arrest. At approximately 03:51 hours the Georgia Implied Consent Notice was read to Ms. Keener, after which she consented to the state administered chemical test of her blood. Ms. Keener was then transported to 500 Riverside Pkwy for a sample of her blood to be collected.

At approximately 04:17 hours a sample of Ms. Keener’s blood was collected as evidence, by Atrium Health Floyd Emergency Medical Services personnel [REDACTED], will be placed at the Rome Police Department, and sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab for analysis. Ms. Keener was then transported to and booked at the Floyd County Detention Center. The backseat was checked before and after each transport.

See primary narrative for further.

[End of Narrative]