Joseph Ballum

Name:
Ballum, Joseph Michael

Date of Booking:
07/18/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI – LESS SAFE- DRUGS

FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE

DRUGS NOT IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER – MISDEMEANOR

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 Saturday, July 18th, 2026, at approximately 0945 hours, I, Deputy Short, while in field training with Cpl. O’Steen, observed a white in color Chevrolet pickup truck bearing Georgia tag display [REDACTED] traveling north bound on GA 41/19 S and noticed it to be weaving within the north bound lane. Cpl. O’Steen was driving his patrol vehicle while I observed from the front passenger seat.

The weaving became more frequent and more intense as we continued north on GA 41/19 S. While approaching Montpellier Rd. the vehicle crossed over the center yellow line left of center into oncoming traffic coming withing 50 feet of striking another vehicle head-on then back into the north bound lane and across the right white line onto the dirt shoulder before overcorrecting back onto the roadway. At this time, Cpl. O’Steen initiated a traffic stop by activating the emergency lights. The truck slowly pulled over to the right hand side of the road and stopped.

Immediately upon stopping, I exited our patrol vehicle and made contact with the driver, a white male soon identified by his Georgia driver’s license as Joseph Michael Ballum. Upon initial contact I observed Mr. Ballum swaying as he sat up in his seat and noticed that his pupils were very constricted. I also noticed his eyes to be droopy. At that time I asked Mr. Ballum to step out of the vehicle and to the rear of his vehicle fearing he may be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs or a medical condition that required further evaluation.

Ballum was slow to exit his vehicle and had trouble balancing himself as he stepped out. Mr. Ballum swayed and staggered as he walked to the rear of his vehicle and had to hold on to the rear to maintain his balance. I asked Mr. Ballum if he had consumed any alcoholic beverages prior to driving this morning. He stated that he had not and had just woken up and was headed to work. I asked Mr. Ballum if he would consent to the Standardized Field Sobriety Test to which he consented to.

I then asked Ballum if he wore contacts or corrective lenses, and if he had any medical reason as to why he would not be able to properly complete the test. Ballum advised that he did not. Mr. Ballum was given instruction before administering each portion of the test.

During the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus portion of the test, I observed Ballum lack smooth pursuit of his eye movements four times, have distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation twice, and have distinct and sustained nystagmus prior to forty-five degrees twice.

During the walk and turn portion of the test, Ballum failed to balance during instructions, stopped walking then started again, missed his heel to toe steps twice, step offline, use his arms for balance, and turn the wrong direction.

During the One leg stand portion of the test, Ballum swayed, used his arms for balance, and put his foot down.

During my interview of Ballum, I observed drool on his mouth, that he had trouble balancing unassisted, and slurred speech. I also observed that his pupils were smaller than normal with the Sun positioned behind him.

At this point, I informed Ballum that he was under arrest, and I placed him in handcuffs double-locked to the rear. I then read implied consent to Ballum to which he consented to a state administered chemical test of his blood.

A search incident to arrest was conducted on Ballum’s person as well as the driver’s area of the vehicle. Inside the center console within reach of the driver was 2 small bags of pills. One contained 5 oval peach colored pills (identified by Pill ID as Adderal/dextroamphetamine) and 2 blue colored oval shaped pills (identified by Pill ID as Xanax/Alprazolam). The other bag contained 12 of the blue oval shaped pills identified as Xanax. Neither was in their prescription pill container. The bag containing the 12 Xanax was a wrapper to a cigarette package. Both medications are scheduled (Adderall Schedule II and Xanax Schedule IV) and are required to be kept in their original prescription containers when transported.

Underneath the steering wheel of the vehicle was a GLOCK model 26 9mm pistol (serial # BXMP845).

The firearm was taken into evidence for safekeeping. All other evidence was submitted to the crime lab as evidence.

Ballum was then transported to Monroe County Hospital to administer the blood draw. After the blood draw was complete, Ballum was transported to the Monroe County Jail and charged with DUI less safe-drugs, Failure to maintain lane, and drugs not in original container. The rear transport area of our patrol vehicle was searched prior to and after transport.

[End of Narrative]