Darnell Shelborne

Name:
Shelborne, Darnell Quwamaine

Date of Booking:
 06/28/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
TAG LIGHT REQUIRED

DUI – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS

HEADLIGHT REQUIREMENTS

FAILURE TO DIM HEADLIGHTS

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 Sunday, June 29th, 2026, at 20:58 hours, I conducted a traffic stop on Shaw Road near the intersection of Rivers Road in Walthourville, Liberty County, Georgia, 31333. The stop was initiated because the vehicle with a Georgia tag of [REDACTED] failed to dim its headlights and tag light violation.

I approached the driver’s side of the vehicle, introduced myself, and explained the department I work for and the reason the driver was stopped. I asked the driver if he had his driver’s license on him, and he provided me with a Georgia driver’s license identifying himself as Mr. Darnell Shelborne. I also detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. I asked Mr. Shelborne how much he had smoked and how long ago, and he said he had just smoked a “blunt” about two hours earlier, before getting in the vehicle and driving.

At that time, I asked Mr. Shelborne to step out of his vehicle and go to the front of the first patrol car. I asked him if he would mind taking a few tests to make sure he was safe to drive, and he agreed. Mr. Shelborne was asked if he had any recent head injuries or anything to prevent him from walking or standing and he informed me that he was recently involved in a car accident, but it does not prevent him from performing the tests.

The first test was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus eye test. He was instructed to stand with his feet together, place his hands at his sides, and remain in this position. I then held up my finger as the stimulus, approximately 12 to 15 inches away from his face and slightly above eye level. I then advised him that I would make several passes in front of his face, to follow my finger with his eyes only, and not to turn his head.

I first checked for equal pupil size, which was detected. I then checked for resting nystagmus, which was not detected. I then checked for equal tracking in both eyes, starting with the subject’s left eye and repeating the step. I then checked for lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes, starting with the subject’s left eye and repeating the step. I then checked for distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation in both eyes, starting with the subject’s left eye and repeating the step. I then checked for the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees in both eyes, starting with the subject’s left eye and repeating the step.

During this test, I detected all six possible clues.

The second test was the Walk and Turn. I first instructed Mr. Shelborne to place his left foot on an imaginary straight line the width of his feet, then place his right foot directly in front of his left foot, heel to toe. I then instructed him to stand there with his arms down by his sides and not to begin until instructed. I then instructed and demonstrated that he was to take nine heel-to-toe steps, touching heel to toe on each step.

On his ninth step, using his lead foot, he was to keep it planted on the ground, turn by taking small steps, and then, after the turn, take another series of nine heel-to-toe steps. I also instructed him to look down at his feet, count his steps out loud, keep his arms down by his sides, and not stop once he began. At this time, I asked if he understood the instructions, and he confirmed he understood.

During this test, I detected five out of a possible eight clues.

The last test was the One Leg Stand. I first instructed Mr. Shelborne to stand with his feet together and his arms down by his sides. I then instructed him to stay in this position until I instructed him to begin. I then instructed him to raise his right or left leg six inches off the ground, with his toe pointed outward. I then instructed him to look down at his toe and count out loud 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, etc., until I instructed him to stop. I also instructed him to keep her arms down by his sides. Next, I informed him that if she had placed his foot on the ground, he was to re-raise his foot and continue from the number he had left off on.

During this test, I detected three of the four possible clubs.

Mr. Shelborne was handcuffed, checked for fit, double-locked, searched, and placed in the transport compartment of my unit, which had been checked for contraband beforehand, and none was found. While in my vehicle, I read him a Georgia Implied Consent Notice (05/2019) for blood, which he agreed to with a verbal yes. Mr. Shelborne’s vehicle was turned over to his mother on scene.

Mr. Shelborne was then transported to the Liberty County Jail, after being transported to Liberty Regional for a legal blood draw, where he was arrested for the listed charges. The transport compartment was checked again for contraband, and none was found.

[End of Narrative]