Caleb Adams

Name:
Adams, Caleb Alexander

Date of Booking:
12/28/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI-LESS SAFE

Improper Lane Change/Failure to Maintain Lane

Hit and Run; Duty of Driver to Stop or Return to Scene of Accident

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 December 27th, 2025, at approximately 2346 hours, I, Deputy D. Neelley, was dispatched to the area of Highway 52 Alternate and Beedie Jones Road in reference to a hit and run that had possibly occurred near Floods Auto Parts, 5084 Highway 52 Alternate. The caller, Ms. [WITNESS #1], stated that she observed the U-Haul truck turn onto Beedie Jones Road.

Upon my arrival to the area, I observed a group of people standing alongside the roadway at [4900 BLOCK] Highway 52 Alternate. I made contact with the group, and determined that they were the other party that was struck by the U-Haul truck. I pulled into the address, identifying the driver as [VICTIM #1], and the passenger as [VICTIM #2].

Both occupants stated that they were traveling west on Highway 52 Alternate when the U-Haul truck, who was traveling east bound, left its lane, striking the driver’s side of their vehicle at around the [4900 BLOCK] block of Highway 52 Alternate. The truck subsequently left the scene at a high rate of speed.

I then spoke with Ms. [WITNESS #1], who was also at [4900 BLOCK] Highway 52 Alternate, who provided the same information. Ms. [WITNESS #1] added that she followed the vehicle and observed it turn onto Beedie Jones Road. She then returned to the scene of the accident.

After obtaining information from all related parties and photos of the vehicle’s damage, I began checking the area for the U-Haul truck. I successfully located a U-Haul box truck at [200 BLOCK] Beedie Jones road with driver side and rear damage, with a driver exiting the vehicle. As I arrived, the driver exited the vehicle, began to stumble, and walked towards me.

As the driver arrived to me, I detected an odor of alcohol coming from his person. I identified myself as Deputy Neelley with the Murray County Sheriff’s Office, and inquired about the damage to his vehicle. The driver, later identified as Caleb Adams, stated that the vehicle was damaged when he obtained the vehicle from a Dalton U-Haul location.

I informed Mr. Adams that the damage on the vehicle is consistent with the damage on the other vehicle that was hit by a U-Haul truck. Mr. Adams reassured me that the damage was already on the vehicle. I asked Mr. Adams for his identification, and he provided it to me.

I asked Mr. Adams how long he’s been home, and he stated he’s been home for approximately 15 minutes, consistent to the amount of time it would take to get to his home from the accident location. I then began inspecting the U-Haul truck, noticing parts of the rear lighting missing as well as parts of the wood siding.

Due to the possibility of him being under the influence, I requested Corporal Cartledge to the location to perform standardized field sobriety. While awaiting Corporal Cartledge’s response, I overheard Mr. Adams speaking to his girlfriend and stating that he took photos of the vehicle prior to renting it.

I exited my vehicle and inquired about the photos, and if I could see them. Mr. Adams then said he does not have the photos, and submitted them through the U-Haul app. I then contacted U-Haul 24/7 Support and inquired about obtaining the photos, in which I was informed that local U-Haul locations keep records of the photos. I then attempted to contact the Dalton U-Haul location, but was unable to make contact with any representative due to them being closed.

I then had Mr. Adams step over to my vehicle, where I asked him away from his family if he has had any alcoholic beverages or illicit substances. Mr. Adams informed me that he did not have any alcohol, but did smoke from a THC Vape two hours prior to law enforcement contact. Mr. Adams was unsure where the THC Vape was located, and could not be located.

Shortly after, Corporal Cartledge arrived, and I informed him of the situation. Corporal Cartledge inspected the vehicle’s damage, also noticing the missing lighting. I then contacted Deputy Hammontree and requested that he check the area of the accident location for any debris.

Corporal Cartledge then moved his vehicle to provide a flat area to conduct field sobriety testing while I stood with Mr. Adams. Once ready, Mr. Adams and I met with Corporal Cartledge at the beginning of the driveway. Corporal Cartledge began conducting field sobriety testing.

Mr. Adams performed horizontal gaze nystagmus testing first, and I was later informed by Corporal Cartledge that he failed the test with 6 out of 6 clues. Mr. Adams was then asked to perform the walk and turn test, but denied while expressing that he believed the test was unfair. Mr. Adams then conducted the one leg stand, and failed to follow proper instructions. Prior to all testing, Mr. Adams was provided proper and clear instructions by Corporal Cartledge.

Due to the failed testing, and belief that Mr. Adams was currently under the influence of alcohol or drugs, he was placed under arrest for driving under the influence. Corporal Cartledge then read Mr. Adams the Georgia Implied Consent notice from his department issued Implied Consent card, in which Mr. Adams agreed. Mr. Adams was allowed to turn over his belongings to his family, and was placed in the rear of my patrol vehicle.

Corporal Cartledge and I remained on scene for some time, gathering the evidence on scene. While I took photos of the vehicle, Corporal Cartledge was able to locate a FLOCK Camera hit on the U-Haul truck, which did not show the damage that is currently on the vehicle from 1600 hours.

I then returned to Mr. Adams to inquire about when he rented the truck, but he was asleep. I woke up Mr. Adams, and advised him of his Miranda Rights, in which he refused to speak with me. I returned to Mr. Adams’ girlfriend, who received his cell phone, and asked her if she was able to pull up the rental agreement on the U-Haul truck. She was able to pull up the rental agreement, and it showed a rental date of 12/27/2025 at 3:33pm.

Shortly after, Deputy Hammontree arrived on scene with the debris located at the accident location. In the obtained debris was a brake light housing and reverse light, consistent with the U-Haul truck. Deputy Hammontree turned over the debris to me.

Corporal Cartledge and I then left the scene. I transported Mr. Adams to Murray Medical Center to conduct implied consent testing. Once Corporal Cartledge arrived with a GBI Blood Box to perform the test, I woke up Mr. Adams again, in which he then refused testing. Mr. Adams was then transported to the Murray County Jail, where he was turned over to jail staff.

After leaving the jail, I contacted Ms. [VICTIM #1] and informed her that the secondary driver was located, and advised her that all of his information and vehicle information would be placed in the report for insurance. Mr. Adams was given citations for Hit and Run, Failure to Maintain Lane, and DUI Less Safe. All obtained debris and photos, via Compact Disk (CD), were turned into evidence at the Murray County Sheriff’s Office.

[End of Narrative]