Austin Nelson

Name:
Nelson, Austin William

Date of Booking:
02/25/2022

Reason(s) For Booking:
POSSESSION AND USE OF DRUG RELATED OBJECTS

FAILURE TO STOP AT STOP SIGN

POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the officer’s narrative report. We do not fix any spelling or grammatical errors. Any changes made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist.]

On Wednesday, February 23, 2022 around 2249 hrs I was parked on the shoulder of Talmadge Rd observing traffic coming off of Arnold Dr. While doing so I observed a Green Mazda(Ga Tag [REDACTED]) approach the intersection of Talmadge Rd and Arnold Dr and fail to stop for the stop sign. The vehicle made a right turn onto Talmadge Rd. I pulled out behind the vehicle and followed it, waiting on a safe location to conduct a traffic stop.

I activated my emergency equipment and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle near Henry Herbert Rd. The vehicle slowed down but appeared to have trouble finding a place to stop. The shoulder of the road was clear with plenty of room to pull over, but failed to do so. I continued following the vehicle until it pulled over near Morningside Dr.

I conducted a driver side approach and made contact with the driver, who was later identified as Mr. Austin Nelson. I advised Mr. Nelson who I was and the reason for the traffic stop. Mr. Nelson said he was lost and was not familiar with the area. While speaking with Mr. Nelson he appeared very nervous and jittery. I returned to my patrol vehicle to run Mr. Nelson through GCIC/NCIC for a license and warrant check. Deputy Lesinski arrived on scene to assist.

I returned to the driver side of the vehicle and asked Mr. Nelson to exit the vehicle. Once out of the vehicle I asked Mr. Nelson where he was coming from and where he was trying to go. He stated he was coming from his girlfriends who lived on Hwy 84 east but was coming from a friends house because he left his phone. I asked Deputy Lesinski to start the hand written warning for the stop sign violation. While the warning was being issued I deployed my K9 Keno on the exterior of the vehicle to conduct a free air sniff for the odor of narcotics. K9 Keno provided a positive response for the odor of narcotics coming from the vehicle. I explained to Mr. Nelson of my K9’s response and advised him of the four odors which would cause him to alert. Mr. Nelson advised me he was around people smoking marijuana.

I searched Mr. Nelson’s person for weapons and contraband, with no findings. During the search on the interior of the vehicle. I located a Black wallet pushed between the steering wheel column. Inside the wallet, I located two syringe’s, one black plastic spoon, one small clear glass container with a screw on top, and a folded up piece of aluminum foil. One of the syringes contained a clear liquid which I suspected to be methamphetamine. The aluminum foil contained a small clear plastic bag with a white powdered substance which I also suspected to be methamphetamine. The glass container had small pieces of cotton inside. I returned back to the front of my patrol vehicle and placed Mr. Nelson into double-lock handcuffs which were checked for fit. Mr. Nelson was seated in the rear of Deputy Lesinski’s patrol vehicle. I continued the search on the interior of the vehicle with no further findings.

Detective Winchell with narcotics was notified and briefed. She arrived on scene soon after. Detective Winchell conducted a field test of the substance on one of the cotton balls and advised me it tested positive for methamphetamine. All evidence was turned over to Detective Winchell while on scene.

Deputy Lesinski transported Mr. Nelson to the Liberty County Jail and released him to the booking staff. She advised me the rear of her patrol vehicle was searched before and after transport of Mr. Nelson, with no weapons or contraband located.

The vehicle was released to Clark’s Towing.