Philip Horton

Name:
HORTON, PHILIP JACKSON

Date of Booking:
05/02/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
HIT AND RUN-FAILURE TO STOP AND RENDER AID

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 previous listed date and time I responded to the listed address for a motor vehicle accident (MVA) roll over. The caller stated there was a white GMC Sierra on it’s side and no one in or around the vehicle. Upon my arrival I located the vehicle. I provided dispatch with the tag information. Dispatch advised the tag returned to offender 2, Philip Horton. I requested a wrecker, Hulsey’s, to be enroute to remove the vehicle. While waiting on Hulsey’s I called the phone number on Philip’s license return. A woman later identified as Mary Horton answered the phone. I advised her who I was and she stated her husband, later identified as Vincent Horton, got into a wreck and she went and picked him up. I askey why he did not call 911, and she stated she was but she had just got back to the house. Mary was advised to bring her and her husband back to the scene.

Once on scene, I talked to Vincent and asked what happened. He looked at the truck and stated “I had an accident.”. I asked why he was driving his son’s truck, and he stated they swapped trucks and Philip was driving his. Sgt. Beam #123 asked Vincent if he was really driving the truck, and Vincent took a long pause, looked at the ground and stated he was not answering any more question. Sgt. Beam asked where Philip was at and they stated he was at home asleep. Vincent was asked again if he was really driving the truck and he just stayed quiet and looked at the ground. I advised Vincent he was under arrest for Duty to Report (hit and run 40-6- 270). I placed him in hand cuffs (check for fit and double locked. I placed him in the back of my patrol car.

Sgt. Beam and Mary returned to the address to check the welfare of Philip, due to Vincent’s clear and apparent nervous behaviors. While Sgt Beam and Mary was gone, Vincent requested to stand out of the car due to being claustrophobic. I allowed Vincent to stand in front of my patrol car. Vincent told me, he was well known throughout Habersham County Sheriff’s Office for donating to the Sheriff’s office for getting new vehicles and trying to raise money to build a new jail. I advised Vincent if he would just tell me the truth, no one had to go to jail. Vincent stated he was a good person and the former Sheriff Joey Terrell could vouch for him. I advised him of his nervous behaviors and he stated “I live and drive on this road for the last 17 years, and when my tires ran off the road into the ditch I couldn’t control it. I over corrected the steering and flipped. I told him I did not believe he was telling the truth, and I believed he was trying to cover for his son. Vincent stated he knew I was playing “good cop bad cop” and he did not want to answer anymore questions. Again I told Vincent if he would tell me the truth of who was driving the truck no one had to go to jail, and an accident report would be the only paper they would receive. I advised him, if Sgt. Beam returned with a different story I would change his charges to obstruction. Vincent stated he was not obstructing anyone, and I advised him he was hindering my investigation for the accident.

Sgt. Beam returned to the scene with Philip under arrest. Sgt. Beam stated Philip admitted to driving the vehicle, and Mary admitted to lying to us by saying Vincent was the one driving. I talked to Philip and could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage originating from his breath. I asked him how long he had been home and he stated 45 min to a hour. I asked how many beers he had to drink and he stated two, about three hours ago.

Due to Philip admitting to driving the vehicle and wrecking I charged him with Duty to Report (hit and run 40-6- 270). Vincent was arrested for obstruction for hindering my investigation. Sgt Beam transported Philip to the county jail, and I transported Vincent. Both were released to the jail staff.

Due to Mary having an 16 year old and a 10 year old child at the house and no adults to care for them at the current time, I take a warrant for obstruction for her.

[End of Narrative]