Joseph Peaster

Name:
Peaster, Joseph Harold

Date of Booking:
08/14/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

AGGRESSIVE DRIVING

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 August 14th, 2026 I, DFC Ryan Scott, and Cpl Jeremy Carver, Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office, GCSO, working for the Crime Suppression Unit, CSU, were on routine patrol when a BOLO came out for a vehicle that had been involved in a road rage incident involving the brandishing of a firearm. We responded Code 2 to SR-515 to set up in a position where we knew we would be able to interdict the suspect vehicle.

Due to the timing of getting north of the city of Ellijay but knowing that the crime occurred inside the jurisdiction of Gilmer County, we set up at SR-515 and Oak Ridge Dr. northbound looking at the vehicles going south. We observed a vehicle matching the description and pulled out behind it confirming the tag that was given by Gilmer Dispatch, GA Tag – [REDACTED], Silver Subaru Crosstrek, and initiated a traffic stop at SR-515 south and Swamp Creek Lane.

I approached the vehicle from the drivers side as Cpl Carver approached from the passenger side. I made contact with the drive, identified as Joseph Peaster, DOB – [REDACTED], of [90 BLOCK] Fall Cir. Ellijay, GA. I identified myself and informed Peaster the reason for the stop. He immediately stated “oh that a*shole”. I asked him about pointing a firearm at the driver of the other vehicle and he stated “he did not and that he had his phone in his hand and was pointing it at him. I asked him a clarifying question of if it was pointed as one would take a photo and he stated “no, I pointed it like this” showing me that it was pointed in a way that would show the slim side toward the other driver. I asked Peaster where his pistol was and he opened the glove box to where I could clearly see a coyote brown and black semi-automatic pistol.

I had Peaster step out of the vehicle while I went to speak with Gilmer Dispatch and run a record check. A record check showed no wants, no felony convictions, and a valid drivers license. I had Gilmer Dispatch call the victim back and have him stop out with us, so I could get his side of the story. Dispatch advised the victim had already passed us but was going to turn around to speak with me.

The victim, identified as [VICTIM #1], D.O.B.: [REDACTED], OH OLN – [REDACTED], drove up to the back of all the parked partol cars and I had him go through what had happened. [VICTIM #1] stated that he was in the number 1 lane attempting to pass vehicles in the number 2 lane. He stated that he had a large group of vehicles behind him and that he was attempting to change lanes to the number 2 lane when a smaller silver, hatcback vehicle that he had already passed, began to speed up and keep pace with him. [VICTIM #1] then sped up even more and changed lanes to the number 2 lane.

[VICTIM #1] stated that when he did this, Peaster then changed lanes to the number 1 lane and pulled up besides him, rolled down his window, and pointed what he knew to be a pistol and aimed it at him. [VICTIM #1] slowed down, called 911, gave the details of the vehicle to include the GA tag [REDACTED] to Gilmer Dispatch. [VICTIM #1] stated that when Peaster rolled the window down the pistol “looked like a black Glock pistol”. I asked [VICTIM #1] to complete a witness statement form and he did. I signed as witness and [VICTIM #1] stated that while he is in the military his schedule would allow him to come back and testify.

The pistol found inside te glovebox of Peaster’s vehicle was a semi-automatic Tarus, SN – AEB114667. I saw that Peaster had a dash cam that provided video of both the inside an outside of the vehicle. I asked him if it was recording and he stated that “he really didn’t know”. I asked him if I could take the SIM card out of it and view the video as the evidence could help his cause. There were only two video’s on the dash cam and they were both from this same day just prior to the event happening.

I observed the video of Peaster getting inside his car somewhere in the vicinity of McCaysville and start to drive south on Highway 5 (Blue Ridge Dr.). The video ended when he got to the light near Walmart in Blue Ridge, still driving south. The other video was date/time stamped the same but with the view reversed and looking inside the vehicle. The SIM card had 25GB left of 29GB total. When the video did not produce the events that happened I had Peaster watch as I put the SIM card back into his dash camera.

With the evidence that I had, I informed Peaster that he was under arrest and asked if he needed anything out of the vehicle. Peaster grabbed what he needed and requested if he could get his mother to come and pick up his car. I told him yes and after checking with LT Bowmen (EEPD) who had stopped out with us from the beginning of the stop he stated that he could wait for the parents, while I and Cpl Carver transport Peaster to the Gilmer County Detention Center. Peaster was handcuffed, checked for fit, double locked, and placed in the back of my patrol car, GCSO 1021, with rear seat camera activated.

All audio/video was taken on body worn camera by myself, Cpl Carver, and DFC Knight. Dash camera audio/video was taken on GCSO 1021 and whichever vehicle LT Bowman was driving. [VICTIM #1] was given a copy of the case number for his records. Peaster was transported to the Gilmer County Detention Center without incident. Rear seat contraband check was completed before transport and immediately after by myself, while Cpl Carver completed booking paperwork, with negative findings. I placed the firearm into evidence (locker #6) with property reciept number 20981.

Warrants were taken out for Aggravaed Assault (16-5-21) and Aggressive Driving (40-6-397) the next day via Judge Morrision.

[End of Narrative]