Christopher Belt

Name:
Belt, Christopher Lee

Date of Booking:
08/21/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Duty to Report Accident Resulting w/ Injury/Death/Property Damage

License to be Carried and Exhibited on Demand

Following too Closely

Hit and Run – Duty of Driver to Stop at/Return to Scene of Accident

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 21, 2026]

Both vehicles were traveling westbound on John Frank Ward Boulevard at the intersection of HWY 42 North. Vehicle 2 stopped at the traffic light, while Vehicle 1 continued traveling and rear-ended Vehicle 2. Driver 1 then fled the scene.

Neither driver complained of injuries. Driver 1 was determined to be at fault for the accident and was later taken into custody for the following charges: Following Too Closely, No License on Person, Hit and Run, and Duty to Make an Immediate Report.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on August 21, 2026]

On 08/21/2026 at approximately 1003 hours, I, Officer J. Keith (2143) of the McDonough Police Department, was dispatched to the intersection of Macon Street (Hwy 42) and John Frank Ward Blvd. This location is within the city limits of McDonough, Henry County, Georgia.

Upon arrival, contact was made with the victim, identified as [VICTIM #1],DOB:[REDACTED BY AGENCY]. Mr. [VICTIM #1] stated that he was traveling westbound on John Frank Ward Blvd and stopped at the traffic light at the intersection of Macon Street when his vehicle was rear-ended by a silver/green Honda CR-V bearing Georgia tag [REDACTED].

Mr. [VICTIM #1] stated that he turned northbound onto Macon Street and attempted to pull into the parking lot of 34 John Frank Ward Blvd (Polk Museum). While doing so, the silver/green Honda CR-V continued westbound and left the scene of the accident.

Mr. [VICTIM #1] provided photographs of the suspect vehicle and stated that an unidentified witness followed the suspect vehicle and photographed the vehicle’s tag. The witness also obtained a partial photograph showing the driver, who appeared to be a bald, white male wearing a white T-shirt.

During my investigation, I logged the suspect vehicle’s tag with Henry County Dispatch and contacted the vehicle’s registered owner, identified as [WITNESS #1], DOB:[REDACTED BY AGENCY]. I asked Mrs. [WITNESS #1] if she knew the bald, white male who was operating her vehicle. Mrs. [WITNESS #1] stated that her son, identified as Belt, Christopher Lee, DOB:[REDACTED BY AGENCY], was driving the vehicle. Mrs. [WITNESS #1] stated that Mr. Belt was traveling toward Stockbridge and should be returning to his residence at [1400 BLOCK] Red Briar Way, Jonesboro, Georgia.

Mrs. [WITNESS #1] stated that her son had been diagnosed with mental health issues and that she would attempt to contact him and have him return to the accident location. Mrs. [WITNESS #1] also provided Mr. Belt’s telephone number, [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. I attempted to contact Mr. Belt by telephone but was unsuccessful.

I documented the damage to Mr. [VICTIM #1]’s vehicle, a silver Lexus GX bearing Georgia tag [REDACTED]. I then contacted Henry County Dispatch and requested that Clayton County Police attempt to make contact with Mr. Belt at the address provided by Mrs. [WITNESS #1]. A short time later, Clayton County Police Officer J. Williams contacted me via a McDonough Police Department-issued telephone and advised that Mr. Belt and the vehicle were not located at the provided address.

At approximately 1207 hours, Mrs. [WITNESS #1] contacted me by telephone and stated that Mr. Belt had contacted her and advised that he had been involved in a vehicle accident and was currently at the QT gas station located at [1400 BLOCK] Jonesboro Road.

I contacted Henry County Dispatch and requested assistance with locating Mr. Belt at that location. A short time later, I arrived at the QT gas station and made contact with Mr. Belt. Mr. Belt was wearing a white T-shirt and was bald, which matched the partial photograph obtained during the investigation.

I requested Mr. Belt’s driver’s license, and he stated that he did not have it in his possession. I then asked Mr. Belt if he had been involved in a hit-and-run accident at Macon Street and John Frank Ward Blvd. Mr. Belt stated that he was unaware of being involved in a hit-and-run accident. Mr. Belt stated that he had been involved in an accident on Jonesboro Road near the intersection of Foster Drive and provided two Henry County Police-issued citations related to that accident.

While speaking with Mr. Belt, I observed that he appeared confused and was not fully alert. I asked Mr. Belt if he was taking any medication, and he stated that he was taking medication for a mental health disorder. I asked Mr. Belt where the vehicle he had been driving was located. Mr. Belt stated that the vehicle had been towed as a result of the accident.

Moments later, Henry County Police Officers A. Broadway (7127) and Cochran (9436) arrived on scene. The officers stated that they had been dispatched to the accident involving Mr. Belt earlier at approximately 1038 hours. The officers further stated that Mr. Belt appeared to be confused and not fully alert at the time of that accident.

Based on Mr. Belt being identified as the driver of the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run by the registered owner, Mrs. [WITNESS #1], the photographs obtained during the investigation, and Mr. Belt’s admission that he had been driving the vehicle, probable cause was established for his arrest.

Mr. Belt was taken into McDonough Police custody and handcuffed with his hands behind his back. The handcuffs were double-locked and checked for proper fit. Mr. Belt was searched incident to arrest.

Mr. Belt was charged with Hit and Run, Duty to Report an Accident Resulting in Property Damage, No License on Person, and Following Too Closely. Mr. Belt was escorted to McDonough Police marked unit #44 and placed in the rear seat. The rear camera was activated and recorded the transport.

Mr. Belt was transported to and released into the custody of the Henry County Jail with copies of his charges.

[End of Narrative]