Wyatt Maxey

Name:
Maxey, Wyatt James

Date of Booking:
08/14/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE

DUI LESS SAFE DRIVER

OPEN CONTAINER

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.]

[NARRATIVE #1 on August 14, 2026]

On August 14, 2026, at approximately 0209 hours, I, Ofc. F. Santana #481 with the Brunswick Police Department, was traveling northbound on Altama Avenue when I observed a white 2012 Hyundai Genesis, bearing Georgia registration [REDACTED BY AGENCY], abruptly change lanes from the right travel lane, cross the left travel lane, and enter the center turn lane on the opposite side of the roadway.

I notified Dispatch of the traffic violation and initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle turned onto R Street and came to a stop near the intersection of R Street and Altama Avenue. I approached the vehicle and made contact with the driver, identified as Wyatt James Maxey (DOB: [REDACTED BY AGENCY]/1977). While speaking with Maxey, I detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle. I also observed that Maxey’s speech appeared slightly slurred and his eyes appeared wide and unfocused.

I asked Maxey where he was coming from and whether he had consumed any alcoholic beverages. Maxey stated that he was coming from Toucan’s and admitted that he had consumed “a couple” of alcoholic beverages. During the conversation, the passenger stated, “He has girl problems.”

Based on Maxey’s driving behavior, the odor of an alcoholic beverage, his physical manifestations, and his admission to consuming alcohol, I made the decision to have Maxey submit to Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs). I requested Ofc. Pawelek #403 respond to my location to conduct the SFSTs. Shortly thereafter, Ofc. Sullivan #467 arrived on scene, followed by Ofc. Pawelek. The SFSTs were initiated by Ofc. Pawelek #403 for Maxey; however, Maxey was physically unable to complete the tests.

Based on the totality of the circumstances, including the observed unsafe lane movement, the odor of an alcoholic beverage, Maxey’s slurred speech and appearance, his admission to consuming alcohol, and his inability to complete the SFSTs, I determined that Maxey was less safe to operate a motor vehicle and placed him under arrest.

The Georgia Implied Consent Notice for suspects age 21 or over was read to Maxey, and a state-administered blood test was requested. Maxey refused the requested blood test. I subsequently completed the Georgia Department of Driver Services Administrative License Suspension and Implied Consent form and personally served Maxey with notice.

During the investigation, an open alcoholic beverage container (Bud Light Can 25 oz) was also located in the vehicle. Maxey’s vehicle was towed from the scene by J&M Towing and stored at their facility. Maxey was transported to the Glynn County Detention Center, where he was turned over to detention staff without further incident.

Maxey was charged with the following:

Improper Lane Change, O.C.G.A § 40-6-48(1), Citation #195978
DUI Alcohol Less Safe, O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391(a)(1), Citation #195979
Open Container, O.C.G.A § 40-6-253, Citation #195980

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on August 14, 2026]

On August 14th, 2026 at 2: 07 AM I arrived at the intersection of Altama and R Street in support of Ofc. Santana’s (#481) traffic stop. Upon arrival, I observed a white Genesis sedan parked on the right side of the road facing West with Ofc. Santana’s and Ofc. Sullivan’s (#467) patrol vehicles behind it.

I met with Ofc. Santana at his patrol vehicle, and he informed me that the driver of the Genesis was believed to be driving under the influence of alcohol. Myself and Ofc. Sullivan had both occupants exit the vehicle and stand behind it. I was on the passenger side of the car during this interaction, and immediately noticed an open 25oz blue can of Bud Light placed behind the driver’s seat with a front windshield sun visor placed over the top of it. When I asked who it belonged too, the driver admitted it was his.

I questioned the driver, Wyatt Maxey, about how much he had to drink tonight. Wyatt explained that he had “two to three drinks.” I then asked him if he had seen a field sobriety test before on one of those “cop shows,” to which he was hesitant and stated that he hoped he did not have to do it. I asked him if he was willing to run through it with me, and he said he would “try – a little bit of it.” Wyatt also admitted that these drinks were within the last hour. During our conversation, Wyatt would slur his words and periodically fiddle with his hands, rubbing his fingers.

I brought Wyatt to a flat part of the road, facing away from the strobing police lights which were then turned off as to not distract him. The area was well lit, and I verified Wyatt did not have any medical issues that would prevent him from completing all three exercises, nor did he have contacts or glasses.

I started with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN). After instructing him to stand with his heels together and his arms straight down at his side, Wyatt immediately began swaying back and forth while standing in place. I then instructed him to follow the stimulus, which was the top of my pointer finger placed 12 to 15 inches away, with only his eyes. I asked if he understood the instructions, to which he said he did.

I first observed his pupils, which were equal in size. I then moved to check equal tracking of the eyes, and after two rapid passes of both his eyes I verified that they had no issues following my finger. I moved on to check for lack of smooth pursuit, and during my passes I observed a very noticeable left and right bouncing of the eyes as they focused on the stimulus, confirming nystagmus. I moved on to check for a distinct and sustained nystagmus in both eyes when the stimulus is placed at maximum deviation. I clearly and immediately observed nystagmus in both eyes while slowly moving the stimulus to each eye’s maximum deviation point.

I also observed nystagmus while holding the stimulus at the maximum deviation point, and after observing it for four to five seconds I repeated the action for the other eye and observed nystagmus on all subsequent passes. I then moved the stimulas to look for onset of nystagmus prior to forty-five degrees in each eye. I observed nystagmus in both eyes prior to forty-five degrees, and held the stimulus in place to confirm. After an additional pass of each eye, I verified that nystagmus was still in effect prior to forty-five degrees in both. Finally, I observed nystagmus in both eyes during my two vertical passes, leading me to further believe that Wyatt was under heavy influence of alcohol.

After evaluating for HGN, I instructed Wyatt to conduct the Walk-and-Turn exercise. While trying to position him properly with his right foot in front of his left foot with the heel touching the toe, Wyatt was unable to bring his heel to his toe. Instead, after giving him multiple attempts to correct himself, he continued to place his feet side-by-side, with the right heel in line with the left toes. I continued to demonstrate the proper way to do it, and verified he could see it. After he stumbled while attempting to get into position a final time, I decided to end the sobriety exercises.

Overall, during my observation of Wyatt conducting the field sobriety exercises, he showed six out of six signs for being under the influence during HGN, alongside heavily swaying while standing still. Wyatt was unable to conduct the walk-and-turn due to being unable to balance in the required position.

Confident of my observations alongside his admissions of drinking, I placed Wyatt under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol, impaired to a less than safe condition. After a search of his person incident to the arrest and placing him into the back of Ofc. Santana’s patrol vehicle, I read him implied consent for persons over the age of twenty-one. Wyatt stated “no” to both a request for a breath test as well as a request for a blood draw.

I left the scene shortly after to respond to other calls.

[End of Narrative]