Name:
McMichael, Alexander Joseph
Date of Booking:
01/08/2023
Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI LESS SAFE DRIVER
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 January 08, 2023 around 0220 hours, I was called to assist with a DUI investigations involved with an accident on Ga 25 southbound and mile marker 29. I arrived on scene and spoke with Officer Brandeberry #128, who gave me Alexander Joseph McMichael, driver’s license. Mr. McMichael was driving a silver, 2009 Honda CRV, North Carolina license plate [REDACTED BY AGENCY] when it struck another vehicle in the rear (See Gears Report). Officer Brandeberry advised Mr. McMichael stated he just left Ziggy’s bar and Mr. McMichael had an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from him, also he was very unsteady on his feet.
Upon talking with Mr. McMichael, I asked him what happened, he just shook his head, turned around and put his hands behind his back, wrists together and said take me. Mr. McMichael stated he did not want to talk about it. While talking with Mr. McMichael, I observed that he had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath as he spoke, his eyes were glassy, watery, and he had a slight slur in his speech. He also had a green and white wrist band on his arm as though he had left a club/bar.
I asked if he would take some field sobriety test and he said yes. I asked does he wear glasses/contacts and does he have any medical problems with his neck, back, hip, legs or feet, he said he was good.
I set Mr. McMichael up in the instructional position for the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test (HGN), Mr. McMichael turned around and put his hands behind his back and said he was going to fail it. I set Mr. McMichael back up in the instructional position again. At the conclusions of the test I observed six clues, lack of smooth pursuit left eye, lack of smooth pursuit right eye, nystagmus at maximum deviation left eye, nystagmus at maximum deviation right eye, onset of nystagmus before 45-degrees left eye, onset of nystagmus before 45-degrees right eye.
I set Mr. McMichael up in the instructional position for the Walk and Turn test and again he turned around and put his hands behind his back. I set Mr. McMichael back up in the instructional position, completed the instructions, gave him a brief demonstration. At the conclusion of the test I observed 6 clues, first set of nine steps, he took more than 15 steps, improper turn, second set of nine, he took more than 16 steps, can’t keep balance while listening to instruction, starts before instruction are finished, stops walking to steady his self, missed heel to toe on several steps, loses balance while walking, uses arms for balance (raised arms over six inches).
I explained the instructional position for the One Leg Stand test, gave a brief demonstration and Mr. McMichael began testing. At the conclusion of the test, I observed 2 clues, uses arms for balance, sways for balancing.
Due to the totality of the circumstances, I placed Mr. McMichael under arrest for DUI Less Safe Alcohol, handcuffed him behind his back, searched him for contraband but none was located. I read the Georgia Implied Consent Notice for suspects age 21 or over requesting breath. He verbally refused to submit a breath sample. I read the Georgia Implied Consent Notice for suspects age 21 or over requesting blood. He verbally refused to submit a blood sample. I asked Mr. McMichael would he provide a breath sample in my department issued Alco-Sensor breath test, but he refused. He was placed in the back of my patrol vehicle secured in a seatbelt. I transported him to the Glynn County Detention Center where I served his citation:
-[REDACTED BY AGENCY] O. C. G. A 40-6-391(a)(1) DUI Less Safe.
Mr. McMichael was turned over to jail personnel.
My Axon body camera footage will be uploaded to evidence.com.
[End of Narrative]