Mary Joyner

Name:
Joyner, Mary Regina

Date of Booking:
05/01/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL

FAIL TO RPT STRIKING FIXED OBJECT

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 05/01/2026, at approximately 0055 hours, I was on a traffic stop in the parking lot of 101 W Hendry St (Ameris Bank) with an unrelated vehicle, when I observed a red 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe (GA Tag [REDACTED]) driving on S Main St with the front right tire damaged.

I cleared from my initial traffic stop and with my emergency lights and sirens still activated, I conducted a traffic stop on the Tahoe in the parking lot of 201 W General Screven Way (T-Mobile).

As the vehicle came to a stop, I observed extensive damage to the rear, front, front right tire and sides of the vehicle. I approached the driver, identified as Mary Joyner and asked her if she got into an accident. Ms Joyner replied, “not that I know of”. While talking with Ms Joyner, I notice the inside of the vehicle also had extensive damage. The roof liner was torn; the dash was broken and laying on the steering wheel and there was an unknown liquid covering the passenger side.

I asked Ms Joyner for her driver’s license, which she provided. I asked her if she was aware of the condition of her vehicle, she replied “no, we just left JJ’s”. I advised central of the condition of the vehicle and central advised they received a call about a vehicle crash with a vehicle matching the description like the one on my traffic stop.

Ms Joyner believed the only damage to her vehicle was a “flat tire”. She stated she was unaware she had a flat. I asked Ms Joyner is she was willing to submit to a standardized field sobriety test and she said yes.

Cpl Lamerth 189 and Ofc Singleton 176 went to the accident location, W Memorial Dr and Strickland St. Both advised Ms Joyner’s vehicle lost control, struck a light pole and then a tree. Ofc Singleton took pictures which I attached to this report.

I asked Ms Joyner to step out of the vehicle to which she complied. I advised Ms Joyner to put the cell phone that she had in the top of her shirt, down and she stated she did not have her phone. I told Ms Joyner the location of her phone and she again stated she did not have a phone. I explained to Ms Joyner her phone was in her top and Ms Joyner finally understood.

As Ms Joyner exited the vehicle, she started to reach for something under her front seat. I advised her not to reach for anything and said ok. As she exited the vehicle, I observed she had only one shoe on. Ms Joyner again reached for something under the seat and again I instructed her to stop reaching under her seat.

I asked Ms Joyner if she wore glasses or contacts and she stated she was wearing contacts. I placed Ms Joyner in the instructional position (feet together and hands down by her sides) and advised her to stay in this position while I explained the test. I placed my pen light approximately twelve inches from her head and slightly above eye level. I asked Ms Joyner if she could see the tip of my pen light and she replied yes.

I told Ms Joyner to follow the tip of my pen with her eyes and her eyes only and to not move her head. I asked Ms Joyner if she understood and she replied yes. When I started the test, Ms Joyner followed my pen with her head and kept her eyes straight. Ms Joyner’s pupils had equal tracking.

During the test, I was unable to identify if Ms Joyner had a lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes, sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation in both eyes or nystagmus prior to 45 degrees in both eyes because she kept her eyes straight forward and turned her head to follow my pen light (0 out of 6 clues). I was unable to check for vertical nystagmus because Ms Joyner followed with her head while checking for vertical nystagmus.

The next test I conducted was the walk-and-turn test. I demonstrated the instructional position and had Ms Joyner assume the instructional position. While explaining the test to her, Ms Joyner exited the instructional position and required multiple explanations on how to perform the test. I placed her in the instructional position again and began to explain the test to her again.

I demonstrated the test by taking three steps forward and back and a proper turn. I instructed her to walk in a straight line and take nine heel-to-toe steps, conduct a proper turn, and take nine heel-to-toe steps back. I told her to begin when she was ready.

During the test, Ms Joyner took three steps forward, failing to walk heal to toe all three times, stopped, asked for instructions again, then took another nine steps forward (12 total steps), failing to walk heal to toe every time. Ms Joyner failed to keep her hands by her side for the first twelve steps. Ms Joyner performed an improper turn and walked nine steps back failing to walk heal to toe every step and did not keep her hands by her side (5 of 8 clues).

The next test I conducted was the one-leg stand test. I advised Ms Joyner to assume the instructional position and explained the instructions of the test to her. Ms Joyner needed me to explain the instructions multiple times. During the test, Ms Joyner started swaying, used her arms for balance, put her foot down eight times, stopped counting and restarted (3 of 4 clues).

I asked Ms Joyner if she would be willing to provide a breath sample for me on my department-issued portable breathalyzer test and she agreed. I advised Ms Joyner the instruction on how to provide a breath sample. She was instructed to take a deep inhale and blow into the device. While attempting to obtain a breath sample, Ms Joyner failed to follow my instruction and only inhaled. I explained the instructions again and Ms Joyner was able to provide a sample. I obtained a breath sample and received a positive reading for alcohol with a BAC of 0.127.

Based on the field sobriety tests I conducted I determined that Ms Joyner was impaired and placed her under arrest for driving under the influence. I placed her in handcuffs, double-locked and checked for fit. Ms Joyner was escorted to my patrol vehicle, placed in the back seat and seat belted in. I read Ms Joyner the Georgia implied consent notice for suspects age 21 or over asking for breath, Ms Joyner replied “yes”.

I requested central to dispatch city impound and they advised Kevin’s Towing was dispatched. Kevin’s towing arrived on scene and the vehicle was released to them. I transported Ms Joyner to the Hinesville police department where she provided a chemical breath test. Ms Joyner’s provided a result of a BAC of 0.131.

Prior to transporting Ms Joyner to the Hinesville police department a female, identified as [WITNESS #1], arrived on scene. Ms [WITNESS #1] stated she was the front passenger of Ms Joyner’s vehicle at the time of the accident. She stated Ms Joyner was upset because an unknown male was “showing interest at her (Ms [WITNESS #1]) and not Ms Joyner while they were leaving JJ’s.

She stated Ms Joyner was driving on W Memorial when she lost control, hit a light pole, spun around and hit a tree. She stated she had her husband come pick her up at the scene. Ms [WITNESS #1] stated when she exited the vehicle, Ms Joyner drove her vehicle away. Ms [WITNESS #1] told her husband to follow her and bring her to my traffic stop to tell the police what happened.

I spoke with the back passenger, identified as Ms [WITNESS #2], who stated she was here visiting. She said they all went out to JJ’s and the next thing she remembers is the police making contact with her and having her exit the vehicle.

I transported Ms Joyner to the Liberty County Jail (LCJ) where she was issued a citation for driving under the influence 0.08 grams or more (bond $1235.00) and leaving the scene of an accident (bond $614). Ms Joyner was released to the custody of the LCJ.

[End of Narrative]