James Dupuy

Name:
Dupuy, James Lee

Date of Booking:
02/24/2024

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

FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE

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.]

[NARRATIVE #1 on February 22, 2024]

On February 22, 2024, at approximately 10:00 p.m., I, Deputy D. Mines spoke to a manger at Horizon Transport Inc. at telephone number [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. The manager informed me that driver that was in possession of tag number [REDACTED] should be James Depuy. The manager was able to provide me with Depuy’s full name, date of birth, and phone number.

On February 23, 2024, at approximately 1:00 p.m., I, Deputy D. Mines met with the victim [VICTIM #1]. [VICTIM #1] was shown a photo lineup by Corporal Schiffer that I had created. [VICTIM #1] was able to successfully pick Depuy out of the line-up. The photo lineup is attached and was placed into evidence locker 005 at the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office. A property receipt was completed.

I will be obtaining warrants on Depuy for hit-and-run and improper lane change.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on February 23, 2024]

On Friday, February 23, 2024, at approximately 3:15 p.m., I, Deputy D. Mines was dispatched to High Shoals Road near Hopping Road in reference to a hit-and-run accident. Before my arrival, Oconee County Dispatch provided me with a possible tag number of [REDACTED] for the vehicle that fled the scene. Oconee County Dispatch informed me this tag number was displayed on a camper being hauled by a pickup truck. I ran that tag number through Flock and was unable to locate that tag number. GCIC/NCIC also did not return any results for that tag number. Dispatch had informed me that the accident occurred on Macon Highway near South Main Street and that both parties involved in the accident were traveling southbound on Macon Highway.

I was able to locate the tag number [REDACTED] out of Indiana displayed on a camper entering Morgan County at approximately 3:13 p.m. It was later determined the original call was delayed when the complainant called Oconee County Dispatch to report the accident. I ran tag number of [REDACTED] through GCIC/NCIC and did not get a return.

I then met with the complainant/victim. The victim was driving a black 2016, Toyota Camry. The victim showed me where his vehicle had been struck. The victim stated he was traveling southbound on Macon Highway near South Main Street where the four-lane turns into two lanes. The victim stated he was in the left-hand lane and the truck and camper were in the right-hand lane. At this location, the right-hand lane ends, and traffic merges into one southbound lane. The victim stated the truck and camper continued next to him and struck his vehicle on the passenger side rear. The victim was shown a photograph of the rear of the camper that I located on Flock. The victim confirmed that this was the vehicle that struck his.

The victim stated the driver of the camper stopped with him near a gas station in Bishop just off Macon Highway before leaving the scene. The victim stated the driver of the pickup truck was a white male subject, bald with a light in color goatee. The victim did state he could pick out the driver in a photo lineup. Photographs of the victim’s vehicle are attached. The victim was provided a case card. A gears’ accident report was completed.

I then contacted Oconee County Dispatch in reference to the Flock alert with the correct tag number. Oconee County Dispatch was also unable to get the tag to return through GCIC/NCIC. I then requested Oconee County Dispatch to contact Indiana State Police Dispatch in reference to the tag number. Indiana was able to get the tag number to return to Horizon Transportation Inc. out of Wakarusa Indiana.

I attempted to contact Horizon Transport Inc. via telephone. I spoke to their dispatch who forwarded me over to management. A voicemail was left with management to return my phone call. At the time of the report, I had not received a phone call back yet.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #3 on February 24, 2024]

On Saturday, February 24, 2024, at approximately 3:45 p.m., I, Deputy D. Mines met with James Depuy at the Oconee County Jail. I had already spoken to Depuy on the phone prior to his arrival. Depuy did not believe he had originally struck the victim’s vehicle. Upon meeting Depuy in the jail parking lot he informed me he had located damage to his vehicle. Depuy was placed under arrest for hit-and-run and improper lane change. Depuy was walked into the jail where he was turned over to the jail staff without incident.

Depuy was issued citations for hit-and-run and improper lane change. Photographs of Depuy vehicle were taken and are attached. Depuy was driving a 2018 gray, Ram 3500, bearing Georgia registration number [REDACTED] at the time of the accident. Depuy was provided with a case number due to the Gear accident report.

[End of Narrative]