Brandon Dale

Name:
Dale, Brandon Anthony

Date of Booking:
06/03/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
ESCAPE – MISDEMEANOR

OPEN CONTAINER IN VEHICLE

WILLFUL OBSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS – MISDEMEANOR

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 Tuesday, June 2nd, at approximately 22:49 hours, I, Deputy First Class J. Ledford #544 of the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to [3800 BLOCK] Flat Branch Road, in reference to Suicide Threats. Myself and Deputy S. Banks #605 (two man unit, as Deputy Banks is in training), Corporal Sawyer #546, Sergeant Humphries #513, Deputy S. Reeves #548, and Deputy D. Cooper #521 responded code 1 (non-emergency).

While en-route, Gilmer County Dispatch advised that the male making the threats had left the residence, and was possibly headed to Boardtown Road from the above stated address. Once on Flatbranch Road, approximately a quarter of a mile, west of weeks road, Sgt. Humphries advised that he saw the vehicle heading east-bound on Flat Branch Road, a short time later, I observed the vehicle passing us.

Deputy Cooper turned around and initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle, I then heard Deputy Reeves state that he, Deputy Cooper, and the red F-150 were turning onto Weeks road, and advised their speed was 18mph. As myself and Deputy Banks caught up to other Deputies, we observed that the vehicle pulled over into the driveway of [1000 BLOCK] Weeks Road.

As I approached the drivers side of the vehicle, I heard the driver (Identified as: Brandon Dale) giving Deputy Cooper his name and date of birth. Once Deputy Cooper stepped away from the vehicle, I began speaking with Mr. Dale and asked him “Will you step out here Brandon?” to which he responded “no, I would prefer not to”.

I then asked him if he would tell me what was going on, to which he responded “I’m trying to go home”, I then began asking Brandon if he had been involved in a verbal argument with his parents, to which he acted surprised, and he deflected to asking me who called me. He then stated that he had been at his parents house, and was trying to get back to his house.

I then stepped away to speak with Sgt. Humphries briefly. Once I approached Mr. Dales drivers window again, I advised Brandon to step out of his vehicle, and explained that if a Law Enforcement Officer orders him out, he is required to do so, or he would be arrested for Obstruction, to which he stated “no, no, no”.

It was at this moment that Deputy Cooper opened the drivers door of the vehicle and he and I took Mr. Dales right arm and pressed it against the (B) pillar of the drivers door jam. Mr. Dale stated “you’re going to break my fu*king arm”, but still refused to exit the vehicle. It was at this time that I grabbed Mr. Dales left leg from underneath his right leg, and myself and Deputy Cooper were able to remove him from the vehicle. Deputy Cooper then went to the ground with Mr. Dale. Deputy Cooper and Deputy Reeves managed to handcuff Mr. Dale behind his back, check for fit, and double lock the handcuffs.

It was at this time, that Mr. Dale began asking what he did, and I explained that he did not comply with the lawful command to exit his vehicle, and advised him that it was Case Law (Pennsylvania v. Mimms). While speaking to Mr. Dale at this moment, I could smell an odor of alcoholic beverage, and observed that his eyes were bloodshot and watery. I asked Mr. Dale how much he had to drink and he responded “thats none of your business”

Myself, Deputy Reeves, and Deputy Cooper then escorted Mr. Dale to Deputy Banks’ patrol unit #221, where he was secured in the back passenger seat. After giving Mr. Dale a few moments to calm down, I then stepped to the passenger door of Deputy Banks’ patrol unit and advised him that I needed to read him something, to which he responded that I did not, because law enforcement didn’t read “it” last time. I had not yet even advised Mr. Dale of what I was going to read him. I then read Mr. Dale the Georgia Implied Consent notice, to which he would not give a yes or no answer.

I then advised Mr. Dale that I would consider this a refusal and shut the door. I went back to speak with Sgt. Humphries, and after a few moments, I heard what sounded like someone running through the woods. I then heard Deputy Reeves yell “he’s running!” and observed a flashlight entering the wood-line. I then ran into the wood-line, and was met with Deputy Cooper and Deputy Reeves walking Mr. Dale toward me, I grabbed Mr. Dale’s left arm and began escorting him, to which Deputy Cooper stated he had him, so I let go.

We then re-secured Mr. Dale in the back seat of Deputy Banks’ patrol unit, and myself and Deputy Cooper stood by both the rear doors. I asked Cpl. Sawyer to bring his leg shackles, as we were going to move Mr. Dale into Deputy Cooper’s patrol unit, and wanted to ensure that he would not run again. Myself and Deputy Cooper advised Mr. Dale through the window of Deputy Banks’ patrol unit, that we were going to shackle his legs, and if he failed to comply, he would obtain more charges.

Once Deputy Cooper and I secured Mr. Dale in leg shackles, we moved him into Deputy Coopers’ patrol unit #721, Deputy Cooper then transported Mr. Dale to the Gilmer County Adult Detention Center without any further incident, where he was charged with the following:

O.C.G.A. 16-10-24 – Obstruction – For refusing to get out of the vehicle, and resisting when being handcuffed.

O.C.G.A. 16-10-52 – Misdemeanor Escape – For exiting the rear seat of Deputy Banks’ patrol unit and running into the wood line.

O.C.G.A. 40-6-253 – For having an open alcoholic beverage container in his vehicle, with liquid from that container laying in the passenger floor-board.

Mr. Dales vehicle was then inventoried by myself and Deputy Reeves (Inventory sheet #3136), and removed by Bradburns Towing. A clear syringe labeled “insulin” was found underneath the drivers seat of the truck, it appeared empty, so it was disposed of in the sharps container at Uniform Patrol Division.

[End of Narrative]