Get notified by email when this case is updated.
Name:
Thomas, James Luther, Jr.
Date of Booking:
09/13/2026
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 Sunday, 13 September 2026, at approximately 1919 hrs I responded to the intersection of New Jesup Highway and Community Road in reference to an individual slumped over the wheel while stopped at the light.
Prior to my arrival, responding Officers were informed the male was in a white Chevrolet and not responding. The male had been stopped at the light for approximately three light cycles.
Upon my arrival, I observed the truck parked in the lane of travel with an unknown male hitting the widow to wake the driver. I pulled my vehicle in front of the white Chevrolet truck and observed the driver begin moving around in the vehicle. I approached the drivers side of the truck and observed a white male, later identified as James Thomas, behind the wheel.
I asked Thomas what was going on and he responded with ” I just talked to him and he said head on up that way”. Immediately I observed Thomas to be heavily slurring his words, he had very bloodshot eyes, I detected the odor of alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle, and I was able to observe a Michelob ultra beer can in the center console of the vehicle. I instructed Thomas to exit his vehicle. Thomas did as requested.
Thomas exited the vehicle and was slightly unsteady on his feet. I asked Thomas how much had he drank and he responded with” I had a couple beers at the hunting club”.
I turned my strobing lights on my patrol vehicle off and began to test for a Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus. Thomas stated he had no ailments that would prevent him from performing any test. I began testing for equal tracking. Immediately I observed Thomas’ eyes displaying a significant Nystagmus. I proceeded with the remaining test and noticed a significant nystagmus on the onset of all passes.
Based on the safety risk for performing any additional field sobriety testing and the information already obtained. I decided no further testing would be conducted.
I then placed Thomas under arrest for the offense of driving under the influence of alcohol due to the fact that Thomas was initially unresponsive for a significant length of time while the vehicle was stopped at the intersection, the open container in the vehicle, the odor of an alcoholic beverage, as well as Thomas’ slurred speech and blood shot and watery eyes.
Thomas refused to provide a preliminary breath sample. Thomas was then read the Georgia Implied Consent for over 21 and refused testing. Thomas wasas also read Georgia Implied Consent for commercial vehicles. Thomas again refused.
Thomas was transported to the Glynn County Detention Center without further incident.
[End of Narrative]