Earnest Brown

Name:
Brown, Earnest

Date of Booking:
03/20/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
HIT AND RUN; DUTY OF DRIVER TO STOP AT OR RETURN TO SCENE OF ACCIDENT

FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE

RECKLESS DRIVING

OBSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS- MISDEMEANOR

FAILURE TO NOTIFY OWNER UPON STRIKING A 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 March 20, 2026, at approximately 0027 I Officer Parrish was dispatched to [200 BLOCK] James Street Forsyth, Georgia 31029 in reference to a Hit and run. Upon arrival I could see multiple pieces of plastic and black colored pieces of vehicle in the roadway including a fog light that had fell from the vehicle, along with a stop sign. I spoke with Mr. [WITNESS #1].

Mr. [WITNESS #1] stated he was sleeping in his house when he heard a loud noise when he walked outside, he saw that a vehicle had struck the stop sign at the end of the road. I asked Mr. [WITNESS #1] if he had a description of the vehicle. He stated he did not see the vehicle he only heard the noise.

While speaking to Mr. [WITNESS #1] a subject on a bike stated he heard the crash and seen a black in color vehicle leave the scene headed towards North Lee Street. I asked if he had seen the make or model of the vehicle, he stated it looked like and suburban or a Tahoe.

This stretch of roadway is a very dimly lit area with steady traffic of pedestrians and bike riders.

With the witness statement giving a description of the vehicle. I then advised the supervisor on shift of the incident and advised to be on the lookout for a black in color suburban or Tahoe that had excessive damage to the driver’s side front end. Corporal Gates and I officer Parrish began conducting area checks to locate the vehicle.

We then located a Black in color Chevrolet Suburban with heavy front left bumper damage, double parked in two spaces at the Days inn. The vehicle had its high beams on, with a black male passed out in the driver’s seat with the engine running.

I then spoke with the male subject later to be identified as a Mr. Ernest Brown III. While speaking with Mr. Brown I could visibly see his eyes being bloodshot. While speaking, Mr. Brown was slurring his speech and began asking the same questions repeatedly. Mr. Brown was extremely unsteady on his feet and was observed using his vehicle to assist him in maintaining his balance. Brown was asked to walk to the front of his vehicle and as he was attempted to walk, he was observed staggering and nearly loosing his balance.

Mr. Brown stated that he had been drinking and when asked where he was at, he stated Macon, Georgia. Mr. Brown stated that he was at the Waffle House and then left to go back to the Days Inn. We then asked Mr. Brown if he had hit anything on the way back to the Days inn, he stated that he did. The fog light found at the scene of the accident matched the damage observed on Mr. Browns vehicle.

Mr. Brown was then placed under arrest with three sets of handcuffs double locked and checked for fit and then taken to my patrol vehicle. While trying to get Mr. Brown into my patrol vehicle he began asking questions repeatedly and refused to get into the car. I attempted to assist Mr. Brown in the car. Corporal Gates then attempted to pull Mr. Brown into the vehicle. Mr. Brown continued not to get into the car. Corporal Gates and I were able to push and pull Mr. Brown into my patrol vehicle. I then transported Mr. Brown to Monroe County Detention Center.

Mr. Brown was cited for Reckless driving due to the area of which Mr. Brown had exited the roadway and struck the stop sign as a high traffic area for pedestrians commuting to and from North Lee Street and Tift College Road. It is also a very dim lit area of the roadway with low visibility due to limited streetlights in the area and a residential area with houses near the roadway.

Mr. Brown was cited and arrested for Reckless Driving 40-6-390, Failure to maintain lain 40-6-48, Hit and run 40 -6-270, Failure to notify owner upon striking a fixed object 40-6-272, and Obstructing Law Enforcement officers 16-10-24.

[End of Narrative]