Jason Rice

Name:
Rice, Jason Austin

Date of Booking:
08/25/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
Hit and Run; Duty of Driver to Stop or Return to Scene of Accident

DUI-LESS SAFE

Open Container Violation Beer/Ale/Porter/Stout/Other Similar Beverages

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 8/25/2025, at approximately 1401 hours, I, Deputy N. Smith, was dispatched to the area of [50 BLOCK] Magnolia Lane, in reference to a “BOLO” (Be on the look out) notice that was anonymously provided to Murray County Dispatch about an intoxicated driver in a dark colored Chevrolet pickup truck.

I traveled to the area and began searching for the described vehicle, which I observed leaving the area of [50 BLOCK] Magnolia Lane. I was unable to catch up to this vehicle, after turning around, and lost sight of it on Springplace Smyrna Rd. Shortly thereafter, Murray County Dispatch advised me that the original caller (later identified as [VICTIM #1]) had called back in to inform that the offender vehicle, which was being driven by Jason Rice, was traveling towards “Spring Place” on Springplace Smyrna Rd, and that it had just wrecked in to [VICTIM #1]’s vehicle and left the scene of the accident.

Corporal Pitts located this vehicle and conducted a traffic stop at [1900 BLOCK] Springplace Smyrna Rd, where I joined him for this investigation. The vehicle was identified as a 2014 gray Chevrolet Silverado (GA tag: [REDACTED]) and the driver was identified as Jason Rice. Upon my initial questioning, Rice stared at me blankly as if he did not comprehend my questions, but later advised that he could not hear me. When I asked if he had left the area of [50 BLOCK] Magnolia Lane, just before this traffic stop, Rice advised “no”.

I later learned that the vehicle collision between he and [VICTIM #1] had occurred at that location. When asked if he had been drinking or had taken any narcotics on this date, Rice said “no”. Rice also advised that he had not been in a vehicle collision on this date.

While Corporal Pitts and I waited for Deputy A. Frazier to gather more information from [VICTIM #1] at another location, I asked Rice if I could “check his eyes” for signs of impairment. I then explained to him that this test was to look for Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, which would indicate impairment. Initially, Rice said “no”, but later agreed to do so.

I had Rice sit on the rear bumper of his vehicle, so that his eyes were shaded from the sun, and asked if he had any issues with his eyes or had sustained any head injuries lately. Rice stated “no”. I then advised Rice to follow the tip of my finger with his eyes while I moved it and to not move his head at all. Rice advised that he understood these directions. I held my finger approximately 1 foot in front of him and I checked for lack of smooth pursuit for 2 seconds, out and back, for both eyes twice and he showed a complete lack of smooth pursuit in each eye.

I then checked for distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation for 4 seconds for both eyes twice and he showed a distinct and sustained nystagmus for both eyes. I then checked the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees for both eyes and moved for 4 seconds for each eye twice and Rice showed little to no sign of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees in either eye. Rice showed 4 out of 6 clues for this test, which indicated that Rice was too impaired to drive a vehicle.

I then asked Rice if he would conduct further testing and he made a statement about knowing that he was going to jail. Rice continued to refuse and then turned and placed his hands behind his back, as if to signify that he was ready to be handcuffed. Corporal Pitts then placed Rice in handcuffs. I read the Miranda Rights warning to Rice and Rice advised that he did not want to answer any questions.

I then read the Georgia Implied Consent Notice for Suspects Age 21 or Over to Rice and asked if he would submit to testing of his blood. Rice said “no”. He was placed in the rear seat of Pitts’s patrol vehicle at this time. While placing Rice in to the vehicle, both Corporal Pitts and I were able to smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his person. Babb’s Towing was then called to the scene to tow Rice’s vehicle.

Corporal Pitts began an inventory search of this vehicle and discovered a small circular-shaped canister of “Big Sipz” Strawberry Margarita alcoholic beverage, which was located in the front passenger seat floorboard and still contained a small amount of its contents (red liquid). I also located a tall, opened canister of Modelo-brand beer sticking out the top of a small cooler directly behind the center console. This can was empty. Photos were taken of these alcoholic beverage containers and will be submitted with this report.

When Deputy Frazier arrived on scene, he advised that he was completing an accident report for [VICTIM #1] for the hit-and-run accident between she and Rice at [50 BLOCK] Magnolia Lane. Frazier advised that [VICTIM #1], who was the mother of Rice’s child, had taken their child to Rice’s address at [60 BLOCK] Kingdom Hall Rd to drop off the child, when she noticed that Rice was intoxicated and she then left with the child.

[VICTIM #1] stated that Rice followed her and that the collision occurred at [50 BLOCK] Magnolia Lane as she was trying to separate from Rice. Frazier has further details of this portion of the case collected in his motor vehicle collision report under this case number. It was determined that [VICTIM #1]’s vehicle (GA tag: [REDACTED]) was struck by the winch on Rice’s front bumper. I observed no visible damage to Rice’s vehicle. [VICTIM #1] advised that she then followed Rice and called in to dispatch to report his location, so that he could be stopped by deputies.

Rice was transported to the Murray County Jail and turned over to jail booking staff by Corporal Pitts. I stayed on scene until Babb’s Towing arrived on scene to remove Rice’s vehicle. I also retained Rice’s Georgia Driver’s License and completed a Georgia Dept. of Driver Services Administrative License Suspension Form for Rice’s refusal of testing as mandated by the Implied Consent Notice. The form was later explained to Rice, signed by Rice, and submitted along with Rice’s license.

Rice was charged with:
-OCGA 40-6-391 (Driving under the Influence) on Citation M20725014
-OCGA 40-6-253 (Open Container in Vehicle) on Citation M20725015
-OCGA 40-6-270 (Hit and Run) on Citation M20725016

[End of Narrative]