Henry Williams

Name:
Williams, Henry Lee

Date of Booking:
07/05/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
FLEEING OR ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE POLICE OFFICER

DUI – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL

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 July 05, 2026]

On Sunday, July 5, 2026, at approximately 21:02 hours, I was dispatched to the railroad tracks behind [200 BLOCK] Pine Avenue in reference to a suspicious vehicle traveling on the tracks. I arrived at the railroad crossing on Limerick Road at approximately 21:26 hours.

Upon arrival, I observed what appeared to be a utility task vehicle (UTV) stopped approximately one-half mile south of my location on the railroad tracks. I began walking toward the vehicle while using my flashlight. Before I could make contact with the driver, the vehicle began traveling southbound away from my location. I returned to my patrol vehicle, drove to the end of Pine Avenue, and then walked back to the railroad tracks in an attempt to get closer to the vehicle.

After exiting the wood line onto the railroad tracks from the end of Pine Avenue, I was approximately 50 yards from the vehicle. The driver asked who I was as I illuminated the area with my flashlight. As I continued to approach, I adjusted my flashlight to avoid shining it directly into the driver’s eyes while still allowing him to observe me, as he was also shining a light in my direction. The driver then asked if I was law enforcement. I identified myself as being with the Sheriff’s Office and ordered him not to move. After I identified myself and gave verbal commands, the driver began traveling southbound, continuing along the railroad tracks.

I continued pursuing the vehicle on foot. Deputy Aragon, who was responding to the area, advised he would proceed farther South to another railroad crossing. As the vehicle approached his location, Deputy Aragon illuminated it with his flashlight and gave verbal commands for the driver to stop. The vehicle continued southbound at a low rate of speed, briefly stopping several times before continuing.

As I continued the foot pursuit, Deputy Aragon relocated to the next railroad crossing at Seabrook Island Drive. Upon arriving there, he activated the emergency blue lights on his clearly marked patrol vehicle and again gave verbal commands for the driver to stop. The driver failed to comply and continued traveling southbound.

Shortly thereafter, I arrived at Deputy Aragon’s location, where Sergeant Pangelinan and Deputy Evans also responded. While speaking with Deputy Aragon, he advised shortly after the vehicle passed his location, he observed its lights disappear to the left side of the railroad tracks. All deputies on scene began walking southbound toward the area where the lights had disappeared.

After walking approximately one-quarter mile south, we approached a railroad trestle over Jones Creek. As we approached the trestle, I observed the driver, later identified as Mr. Henry Williams, lying on the ground on the left side of the railroad tracks. Mr. Williams was soaking wet, and what appeared to be the UTV was completely submerged in Jones Creek behind him.

Mr. Williams stated while attempting to cross the trestle, he accidentally slid the UTV into the creek. He was advised he was under arrest for fleeing and was placed in double-locked handcuffs behind his back. The handcuffs were checked for proper fit. A search of his person was conducted incident to arrest, and he was escorted back to my patrol vehicle. While escorting Mr. Williams, I smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his person.

Upon arriving at my patrol vehicle, EMS personnel arrived on scene and evaluated Mr. Williams for injuries. He was medically cleared and refused further treatment. I advised Mr. Williams of his Miranda rights, which he acknowledged and agreed to waive by speaking with me. During our conversation, his speech was slurred and I continued to detect the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his person.

Mr. Williams stated he drove a friend home from Dave Williams Road to Limerick Road using the railroad tracks in his UTV. After dropping off his friend, he attempted to return home by traveling back along the railroad tracks. He stated he dropped his friend off before seeing me. Mr. Williams provided limited information regarding the UTV. He described it as a camouflage 2019 Can-Am Defender HD10 XMR single-cab UTV.

During our conversation, Mr. Williams stated he consumed one 12-ounce Bud Light beer earlier. I asked him to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which he refused. I also asked if he would provide a preliminary breath sample using my county-issued Alco-Sensor, which he also refused. I read the Georgia Implied Consent Notice for Suspects Age 21 or Over (Green Card) to Mr. Williams. He refused the requested state-administered chemical testing by stating, “No.”

Mr. Williams was escorted to the rear seat of my patrol vehicle, secured with a seat belt, and transported to the Liberty County Jail, where he was released to jail booking staff without incident. The rear seat of my patrol vehicle was searched before and after transport with no findings.

Following the incident, Sergeant Pangelinan notified Liberty County Emergency Management regarding the submerged UTV. Shortly thereafter, Emergency Management responder, Mr. [REDACTED] (Unit 501) arrived on scene to assess the incident. He advised recovery operations and further investigation would continue the following morning due to darkness.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Officer Xavier Devillars and Riceboro Southern Railway representative, Mr. [REDACTED] were also notified and briefed regarding the incident.

Due to the resources required and the duration of the incident, the UTV was not removed from Jones Creek.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on July 05, 2026]

On July 5, 2026, at approximately 2140 hours, I was assisting Corporal Tilley in reference to a suspicious vehicle on the railroad tracks. I attempted to make contact with the driver as the vehicle drove past my location near Sandpiper Drive.

I observed a UTV traveling toward my location on the railroad tracks. As the vehicle approached, I shined my flashlight at the vehicle identified myself as being with the Sheriff’s Office and gave loud verbal commands for the driver to stop. The UTV failed to stop and continued traveling down the railroad tracks at a slow rate of speed.

A short time later, I observed the UTV stopped on the tracks near the entrance to Marsh View Bible Camp. As I approached the vehicle, I attempted to conduct a traffic stop by activating my emergency lights and siren. The UTV failed to yield and continued traveling on the railroad tracks at a slow rate of speed.

I maintained visual contact with the UTV and observed it travel into an area where it appeared to back into the tree line. Sergeant Pangelinan, Corporal Tilley, and I responded on foot to the UTV’s last known location. As we approached the area, we observed the UTV fully submerged in the river and an adult male clinging to the edge of the riverbank. I assisted the male from the water and onto dry land.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #3 on July 09, 2026]

On Thursday, July 9, 2026, at approximately 02:49 hours, ADS Dillon and I were dispatched to [1500 BLOCK] Seabrook Island Drive in reference to a suspicious vehicle. We arrived on scene at approximately 03:07 hours.

Upon arrival, we made contact with Mr. Henry Williams, who was standing near the railroad tracks with his recently recovered 2019 CAN-AM UTV. When asked what he was doing at the location, Mr. Williams stated he was “waiting on a friend to bring a flatbed trailer to load up the vehicle.”

We advised Mr. Williams of the applicable laws regarding vehicles and pedestrians on railroad tracks. After speaking with him and assessing the situation, we determined there were no further safety concerns.

The vehicle’s VIN was obtained and checked through GCIC/NCIC. The inquiry returned no record.

[End of Narrative]