Joshua McKinney

Name:
McKinney, Joshua Andrew

Date of Booking:
04/24/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI LESS SAFE DRIVER

ENDANGERING A CHILD BY DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS

SEAT BELT FOR CHILDREN UNDER 8 YRS. OF AGE

FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE

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 the above date at approximately 12:35 a.m I was in the area of Chapel Crossing Rd and Spur-25 in my patrol car when I observed a Silver in color Cadillac CTS (GA Temp Tag: [REDACTED]) take an extremely wide left turn from Spur-25 and in the direction of Walker Rd. The Cadillac had completely missed Walker Rd and proceeded to drive northbound in the southbound lane, before making a U-turn into the right turn lane of Spur-25 and Walker Rd.

Once on Walker Rd, I observed the Cadillac cross the double yellow center line, before jerking the wheel to the right and crossing the fog line. The Cadillac then began to accelerate at a high rate of speed, crossing all the way into the oncoming lane, eventually rounding the bend in the road and disappearing from my view.

Knowing that the Cadillac was proceeding towards Old Jesup Rd, I proceeded through the intersection and sped up to attempt to see which direction the Cadillac had turned. By the time I rounded the same bend that I last saw the Cadillac at, I could see that the car was sitting on the solid white line between two turning lanes. The driver side door was now slightly open and I could see the torso of a black male, later identified as Joshua McKinney, leaning outside of the vehicle. Joshua then closed the door and proceeded to turn right on to Old Jesup Rd.

I initiated my emergency lights and siren, conducting a traffic stop on Joshua’s Cadillac at the intersection of Walker Rd and Old Jesup Rd. Joshua turned on his right turn signal and pulled into the parking lot of Emmanuel Baptist Church. Once I exited my patrol car, I approached the Cadillac, introduced myself and explained the reason for the traffic stop.

I could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Joshua’s breath as he was slurring, “Yes sir.” I also observed that Joshua’s eyes were droopy and he acted lethargic. While speaking with Joshua I noticed a small toddler, identified as Joshua’s one year old son, sitting in the front seat of the vehicle and outside of his car seat, located in the right-rear seat of the vehicle. I also told Joshua that his son could not be in the front seat and he replied, “Yes, sir. I know.”

At this time I had reason to believe that Joshua was possibly under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. I instructed Joshua to step out of the vehicle and called for an additional unit due to an unaccompanied juvenile, as I was going to later request for Joshua’s consent to conduct Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. As Joshua was stepping out of his vehicle he replied, “Yes, sir, I completely understand. I ain’t going to lie to you, I’ve been drinking. I’ve had a few shots of Patron and smoked a little bit. I’m drunk, I ain’t gonna lie, sir.”

While walking back to the front of my patrol car, Joshua kept apologizing and continued to admit that he was intoxicated and driving while doing so. I asked Joshua approximately how long ago he had his last drink and he replied, “Around 12.” With Joshua’s admission to consuming alcohol and witnessing numerous less-safe traffic violations I asked Joshua if he was willing to complete Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. Joshua replied, “Yeah sure bro, I completely understand. Do whatever you’ve got to do bro, I know I was in the wrong.”

I waited until Officer Pritchett #146 and Sullivan #110 arrived on scene to standby with the child, so I could complete SFST’s. I allowed Joshua to contact his girlfriend, who was the child’s mother, and advised him that she needed to respond to the scene to get his child. When Joshua placed her a phone-call, I could hear that his girlfriend was very upset and kept saying, “Babe I told you that you not to do this. I am about to cry.” Joshua then ended the phone call after telling her to come get his son and the vehicle. Once officer Pritchett and Sullivan arrived on scene, I began SFST’s.

Prior to starting the tests, I asked Joshua if he had any medical conditions that would prevent him from completing the tests? Joshua replied, “Nah I am all good bro. I don’t have any medical issues or nothing.” I asked if he had any issues with his eyes and Joshua replied, “No sir.”

I then instructed Joshua to stand with his feet together and place his hands by his side. Joshua took several seconds to do so, requiring me to have to say, “Can you go ahead and stand like this?” Once Joshua did, he placed his hands in his pockets, prompting me to advise him to remove his hands from his pockets. Once Joshua was in the proper stance, I advised him to remain in that position until told to do otherwise, followed by the question, “Do you understand?” Joshua replied, “I got you bro.”

I then lifted my index finger and asked Joshua if he could clearly see the tip of my index finger (stimulus). Joshua replied, “Yeah.” I then advised him that I wanted him to follow the tip of my finger with his eyes and eyes only and to not move his head side to side. Joshua then asked, “So you want me to use my eyes only right?” I told him “Yes.” and advised him that I was going to check his eyes. I held my index finger slightly above eye level and approximately 12 inches away from Joshua’s face. I checked and confirmed that both eyes had no resting nystagmus, had equal pupil size and equal tracking. After confirming that Joshua passed the medical evaluations, I began Standardized Field Sobriety Testing.

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test:

The proper stance was explained and demonstrated. Upon beginning the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test, Joshua began to move his head side to side while following the stimulus. Additionally, Joshua would often stop looking at the stimulus completely and focus off somewhere else. I could also observe that Joshua had a 360 degree sway to his upper body and had the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person.

During Distinct and Sustained Nystagmus at Maximum Deviation, Joshua would again lose focus on the stimulus and move his eyes to look at the palm of my hand or wrist area. When he would refocus on the stimulus, Nystagmus was visible. Nystagmus onset prior to 45 degrees was observed in both eyes and when I paused to confirm the nystagmus, I observed it was sustained for several seconds. Vertical gaze Nystagmus was also checked for and observed in both eyes. Nystagmus was also sustained vertically when held at maximum vertical deviation. The following 6/6 validated clues were observed:

• Lack of Smooth Pursuit
• Distinct and Sustained Nystagmus at Maximum Deviation
• Nystagmus Onset Prior to a 45 Degree Angle.

Walk and Turn Test:

The proper stance was explained and demonstrated. After instructing Joshua to remain in the instructed position until told to do otherwise I asked, “Do you understand?” Joshua replied, “yes.” However, he immediately broke out of the stance and stood with his feet side by side. When I began to provide instruction for how to complete the Walk and Turn test, Joshua continued to interrupt and stated, “I got you bro. I know what you need me to do, I got you.” Joshua then got back into the required stance and acted as if he was going to start the test, prompting me to stop him and state, “I have to provide you a demonstration first, okay?” Finally, Joshua stated, “I got you bro.”

I provided a demonstration on how to complete the walk and turn test and asked Joshua, “Do you understand these instructions?” Joshua replied, “Yes.” Joshua was then advised he could start. Joshua first started out using his arms for balance, but then lowered them and continue to execute all 9 steps. After the ninth step, Joshua took and extra step and stated, “I did an extra step so I could turn” and then proceeded to turn in a manner other than what was instructed. Joshua then continued to walk back and on his ninth step, crossed his right foot around his left foot, missing a heel to toe step. The following 5/8 Validated clues were observed:

• Cannot keep balance (instruction phase)
• Uses arms for Balance
• Incorrect number of Steps
• Improper Turn
• Missed Heel-to-Toe Step

One Leg stand test:

The proper stance was explained and demonstrated. After Joshua was instructed to stand in the correct stance I instructed him to remain in the position until told to do otherwise. I asked Joshua, “Do you understand?” and he replied, “I got you bro.” I explained that Joshua could use either foot of his choice for this test and whatever foot was more comfortable for him I provided demonstration using my right foot. I then instructed Joshua that when I tell him to start he will look down at his feet, have his hands by his side and raise either leg of his choice, ensuring his foot was parallel to the ground and approximately six inches off the ground. Joshua stated he understood.

I then explained that when I say start, he will count in the manner “One-Thousand one, One-Thousand two, One-Thousand three…” and so on until told to stop. Joshua stated he understood. When Joshua was told to start he had placed his hands in his pockets and lifted his right foot. Joshua began to count off as instructed and I could observe that his left leg was noticeably shaking and there was a visible body sway. Joshua then reached “One-Thousand Fourteen” and proceeded to count it twice ina row. He did the same for “One-Thousand Fifteen,” repeating the number twice. This was also done for “One-Thousand Eighteen.” Joshua then counted through Nineteen and Twenty when 30 recorded seconds had elapsed. The following 1/4 validated Clue was observed:

• Sways While Balancing

Following Standardized Field Sobriety testing, I began to conduct Advanced Roadside Impairment and Detection Enforcement tests. I first started by doing the Lack of Convergence test to determine if Joshua was under the influence of any drug that would create a lack of convergence. I explained to Joshua how the tests would be conducted and I advised him that I would bring the tip of my finger close to the bridge of his nose, but I would not touch him. When I asked Joshua if he understood he replied, “yes sir.”

While conducting the test, I observed no Lack of Convergence in either of Joshua’s eyes. Following the lack of convergence test I provided explanation and demonstration for the finger to nose test. Joshua was then provided instruction that he needed to touch the tip of his finger to the tip of his nose in a wide arcing motion. I then asked Joshua if he understood and he replied, “yes sir.” During the finger to nose test, Joshua largely would bring the pad of his index finger and lay it across the lower bridge of his nose.

Lastly, I provided instruction for the Modified Romberg Balance Test, followed by providing a demonstration. I instructed Joshua to tilt his head back and close his eyes, estimating the passage of thirty seconds in his head. When told to start, Joshua closed his eyes and titled his head back. I observed no eyelid tremors or body tremors, but could still see a visible 360 sway of his upper body. Joshua estimated the passage of thirty seconds in 44 recorded seconds.

At this time I had probable cause that Joshua was driving under the influence of alcohol based on my observations. Joshua was placed into double-locked handcuffs behind his back and informed that he was under arrest for DUI Less-Safe Alcohol (OCGA 40-6-391(a)(1)), I also informed Joshua that he was receiving a citation for Failure to Maintain Lane (OCGA 40-6-48); Child Safety Seat Violation (OCGA 40-8-76(b)(1)) and for Endangering a Child by Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (OCGA 40-6-391(1)).

Joshua was then searched and read the Georgia Implied Consent Notice for Ages 21 or over. After asking Joshua if he would submit to the state administered chemical test of his blood he replied, “Yes.” Once Joshua was placed in the back of my patrol car, his girlfriend arrived on scene and was provided with his wallet and keys to his vehicle. His girlfriend had picked up the juvenile and had placed him into the back of her vehicle. After ensuring that no one had any further questions, I transported Joshua to the hospital for a blood draw.

On the way to the hospital, Joshua began to ask questions pertaining to the Georgia Implied Consent Notice and asked what the notice meant. I stated that I could not provide explanation, but would re-read the notice upon arrival to the hospital. Once at the hospital, I immediately re-read the Georgia Implied Consent Notice for Ages 21 or Over.

I again asked Joshua if he would submit to the state administered chemical test of his blood and received a response of, “Yes.” Joshua was then brought inside the hospital for a a blood draw where the Georgia Bureau of investigation blood-draw kit form was fully filled out and Signed by myself and the phlebotomist. After receiving a sealed blood kit after the blood draw, Joshua was transported to the Glynn County Detention Center where he was booked for DUI Less-Safe Alcohol (OCGA 40-6-391(a)(1)), Failure to Maintain Lane (OCGA 40-6-48); Child Safety Seat Violation (OCGA 40-8-76(b)(1)) and for Endangering a Child by Driving under the Influence of Alcohol (OCGA 40-6-391(1)).

Joshua Signed all the above citations and was provided a copy for his record. Joshua was then released to the custody of the Glynn County Detention Center without further incident. At this time, All evidence, including the Blood kit, has been placed into evidence for further processing. All video and paperwork from this incident has been scanned and uploaded into evidence.com under this case number. The vehicle was turned over to Joshua’s girlfriend on-scene.

[End of Narrative]