Tyler Clay

Name:
Clay, Tyler Grace

Date of Booking:
07/05/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
APPROACHING AUTHORIZED EMERG VEH

DUI – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL

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 Sunday, July 5th, 2026, at approximately 05:16 hours, I, Deputy First Class J. Ledford #544 of the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office was a backup unit for a traffic stop that DFC C. Jump #545 was conducting on Georgia Highway 515 (north-bound), in the area of Coosawattee Drive. While Deputy Jump was speaking with the driver of the vehicle he had stopped, I observed a blue in color, Mini Cooper drive pass us in the northbound lane (slow lane) and make no attempt to slow down or move over away from deputies on the shoulder of the road, and there was no other vehicle preventing the driver from being able to move over into the fast lane.

I then entered my patrol vehicle (unit #821), and called out to Gilmer County Dispatch that I was attempting to catch up to the Mini Cooper, I had my emergency lights and sirens active in this process. I caught up to the Mini Cooper at the intersection of Georgia Highway 515, and First Avenue. I then deactivated my siren, but kept my emergency lights on, the vehicle pulled into the Parkway Conoco Gas Station (15 East Oak Street).

Upon making contact with the driver (Identified as: Tyler Clay), I introduced myself, and advised her of the reason for the traffic stop. While speaking with Ms. Clay, I smelled a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from her person. Ms. Clay then advised me that she had a “very weird night and just trying to get home”. It was at this time that DFC Jump, and Sergeant Humphries #513 arrived on scene.

I asked Ms. Clay for her license, and she could not locate them, she then stated that she had a picture of them on her phone. I asked Ms. Clay if she had anything to drink tonight, and told her that I smelled alcohol, she stated that she didn’t, but took some friends home earlier. Sgt. Humphries then advised her that he could also smell it, while he was standing behind me.

I then asked Ms. Clay to step out of her vehicle, and advised her that I would like to conduct Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, to ensure that she was safe to drive. I went back to my vehicle, and deactivated my emergency lights and backed it up to provide more room for SFST. I then had Ms. Clay step in front of my vehicle (approximately 15 feet in front, in order to provide her with a flat and level surface) and stand with her feet together and her arms down by her side.

I then had Ms. Clay focus on the tip of my index finger on my right hand, and held it still to check for resting nystagmus, I observed none. During this time, I asked Ms. Clay if she had any history of traumatic brain injury, she stated she did. I then asked Ms. Clay if she had any history of leg injury, or anything that effects her ability to balance or walk in a straight line, she stated she did. I then stated that I would not have her do the walk and turn, or the one leg stand.

I then began conducting Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, below are my findings:

Conditions:

Weather: Cloudy, 70 degrees.
Surface: Pavement, wet, HGN on flat and level surface.
Attire: Black tank top, blue shorts, brown shoes, white socks.

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) (3 possible clues each eye for total of 6)

Eyes: Bloodshot.
Glasses / contacts: Yes
Color: Blue Equal pupil size: present
Resting Nystagmus: none
Equal tracking in both eyes: present
Lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes: present
Distinct and sustained Nystagmus at maximum deviation in both eyes: present
Onset of Nystagmus prior to forty-five degrees in both eyes: Present
Vertical Nystagmus in both eyes: not present

6 out of 6 clues observed, evaluation had to be restarted one time, due to Ms. Clay looking away from the tip of my finger.

Walk and Turn (8 possible clues)

• Could not be completed, due to level of incline on roadway.

One Leg Stand

• Could not be completed, due to level of incline on roadway.

I then asked Ms. Clay if she would be willing to give a Preliminary Breath Test, to which she agreed, and it detected a positive presence of alcohol. I then advised Ms. Clay to place her hands behind her back, and handcuffed her behind her back, checked the cuffs for fit, and then double locked. I advised Ms. Clay that she was under arrest for Driving Under The Influence of Alcohol, and failing to move over for Emergency vehicles. I read Ms. Clay the Georgia Implied Consent Notice at approximately 05:30 hours, to which she agreed to the State Administered Chemical Test of her breath.

Deputy Jump conducted an inventory of the vehicle, and stood-by until next list (on call) wrecker service, Bradburns Towing, arrived to remove the vehicle. I then began transporting Ms. Clay to the Gilmer County Adult Detention Center, but was called back to the scene by Sgt. Humphries, to take Ms. Clay’s wallet with her to the Detention Center, once I obtained the wallet, I transported Ms. Clay to the Gilmer County Adult Detention Center, where she was turned over to Detention Staff without incident. Deputy J. Parks #531 met me at the Detention Center and conducted the State Administered Chemical Test of her Breath, which showed a result of 0.208%.

Ms. Clay has been charged with the following:

O.C.G.A. 40-6-391 – Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Based on the clues I observed during the SFST portion. (Citation #62-120)

O.C.G.A. 40-6-16 – Failure to move over for Emergency Vehicle. (Citation #62-119)

A DDS 1205 form was filled out and submitted, I explained the instructions for an appeal hearing, and provided her a temporary permit.

[End of Narrative]