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Name:
Juan-Miguel, Carlos Daniel
Date of Booking:
05/15/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
POSSESSION OF OPEN ALCOHOL CONTAINER
DUI REFUSAL
FAILURE TO SIGNAL LANE CHANGE OR TURN
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 05/15/2026 at approximately 2154 hours, I, Officer Campbell #220, responded code one (no lights or sirens) to a dispatch call regarding a vehicle stopped in the middle of the roadway with a male driver passed out behind the wheel on Chattahoochee Street within the city limits of Cornelia, Georgia.
Upon arrival, I observed a gray Honda passenger car bearing Tennessee temporary tag [REDACTED] stopped in the roadway with its hazard lights activated. I positioned my patrol vehicle in front of the Honda and exited to make contact with the driver.
Upon approaching the driver’s side window, I observed a male subject, later identified as Carlos Daniel Juan Miguel, asleep in the driver’s seat. I confirmed Carlos was breathing and waited for Officer Schoenholz #215 to arrive on scene. I instructed Officer Schoenholz to position her patrol vehicle behind the Honda in the event Carlos awakened and attempted to drive away.
After Officer Schoenholz arrived and approached the passenger side of the vehicle, I began knocking loudly on the driver’s side door and window in an attempt to wake Carlos. Despite repeated attempts, Carlos remained unresponsive. Shortly thereafter, personnel with the Cornelia Fire Department arrived on scene and assisted by knocking on the vehicle. Carlos then slowly began to wake up.
Once awake, Carlos attempted several times to place the vehicle into gear but was unable to do so because his foot was not on the brake pedal. I repeatedly instructed Carlos to open the vehicle door. After several commands, Carlos complied and exited the vehicle.
As Carlos exited, I observed several open containers of alcoholic beverages inside the vehicle, including two located in the center cup holders and multiple containers on the passenger-side floorboard. I directed Carlos away from the vehicle and asked how many beers he had consumed. Carlos stated he had consumed five beers. I further observed that Carlos had bloodshot, watery eyes and a strong odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath.
Due to a language barrier, communication with Carlos was difficult. I retrieved a Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) device from my patrol vehicle. I instructed Carlos to blow into the device; however, on the first attempt he inhaled through the mouthpiece instead. After further instruction, Carlos provided a proper breath sample. The PBT indicated a positive result for alcohol with a reading of 0.150.
A firefighter on scene advised he could assist with translation services, and I accepted the assistance. Through translation, Carlos was asked if he would consent to standardized field sobriety evaluations, and he agreed.
HGN (Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus):
During the HGN evaluation, I observed 4 out of 6 clues of impairment. I observed 2 out of 2 clues for Lack of Smooth Pursuit and 2 out of 2 clues for Distinct and Sustained Nystagmus at Maximum Deviation. During the evaluation, Carlos also had difficulty following the tip of my finger/stimulus and repeatedly failed to maintain focus on the stimulus.
WAT (Walk and Turn):
During the Walk and Turn evaluation, I observed 6 out of 8 clues of impairment. Carlos stopped while walking, missed heel-to-toe, stepped off the line, used his arms for balance, took the incorrect number of steps, and made an improper turn. Additionally, Carlos failed to turn properly on the line and walked backward while missing heel-to-toe and stepping off the line multiple times.
OLS (One Leg Stand):
During the One Leg Stand evaluation, I observed 3 out of 4 clues of impairment. Carlos swayed while balancing, used his arms for balance, and put his foot down during the test. Carlos also failed to count as instructed.
Based on my observations, Carlos was placed under arrest and secured in handcuffs, double-locked and checked for proper fit. Carlos was then placed in the rear seat of my patrol vehicle and secured with a seatbelt for transportation.
I read Carlos the Georgia Implied Consent Notice for suspects age 21 or over and requested a state administered chemical test of his blood. Carlos verbally refused. I then walked over to his vehicle and located several open containers of Modelo alcoholic drinks in the floorboard that were empty and two in the center consol that were about half full, I poured them out on scene and placed them back into a plastic bag.
Carlos was transported to the Habersham County Jail and turned over to jail staff without further incident. Citations were issued for Improper Stopping in the Roadway, DUI Refusal, and Open Container.
[End of Narrative]