James Fercilien

Name:
Fercilien, James Bequliere

Date of Booking:
06/01/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
FALSE IMPRISONMENT

DUI – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL

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 5/31/2026, at approximately 2330 hours, I, Deputy Ward, was dispatched to the area of [1000 BLOCK] Echo Trail (within Oconee County), regarding a possible domestic. Dispatch advised that someone called 911 to report a black 4-door car was driving through the neighborhood, and a female was screaming for help. The caller advised it sounded as if the female was screaming for help, and the black 4-door car took off. A short time later, the caller advised the vehicle drove past their house again, and was last seen turning right onto Echo Trail.

As I began searching the area for the vehicle, I observed a female standing on the side of the road flagging me down. First contact with the female was near [1300 BLOCK] Echo Trail. I exited my patrol vehicle and began speaking with the female. She stated that she and her husband, James Fercilien, had a very bad argument. They were coming back from a concert, and have been going through marital issues. The female stated they have been going to marriage counseling in the recent past.

The female stated they drove up to their house but James wanted to keep talking through the argument. The female stated James stated he was going to go for a little drive, and began driving away from their house. The female stated she asked James to stop the vehicle and let her out, but James refused. James kept driving through the neighborhood, toward Echo Trail, and she started yelling at James to let her out. However, James still refused to stop the car.

The female stated she started screaming for help, kicking and hitting James, trying to get him to stop the car. Once she started hitting him, James stopped the car, and she was able to get out of the car. She began walking back toward her residence, when law enforcement arrived. While speaking with the female, I smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. I asked the female to sit in my patrol vehicle, and I began driving to her residence.

While driving toward their residence, I observed a black male wearing all dark clothing, walking on the side of the road. I asked the female if the male walking was her husband, and she confirmed it was. I got out with James and began talking with him.

When asked, James stated that both parties went to a concert in Atlanta this evening. On the way home, the couple began arguing. James admitted to having consumed a few alcoholic beverages while at the concert. As the couple arrived at their house, James stated he wanted to continue talking through the argument. He began driving away from their house, when his wife asked him to stop the car and let her out. However, James admitted that he did not stop the car, and did not allow her to exit the vehicle, as she requested. Instead, he drove toward the back of the neighborhood, toward Echo Trail, when his wife started yelling at him.

In the area of Echo Trail, James reported his wife started kicking him, and punching him, asking him to let her out of the car. After being struck, James stopped the vehicle and his was able to get out of the car. James left her on the side of the road, drove back to their residence to park the car, then began walking back to where he left his wife. That’s when law enforcement stopped him.

While speaking with James, I observed his eyes to be red, bloodshot, and watery. I smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person. I explained that he admitted to consuming a few alcoholic beverages at the concert, and driving their vehicle. James described the vehicle he was driving as a black Tesla Model Y. I asked James to conduct Standard Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), which he agreed. The results are below.

Prior to completing SFST, James stated he was wearing soft contacts, he did not take medication, and he did not have any injuries preventing him from completing the exercises.

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN): 6 out of 6 clues
-lack of smooth pursuit (2 clues, one for each eye)
-distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation (2 clues, one for each eye)
-onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees (2 clues, one for each eye)

Walk and Turn (instructions demonstrated): 1 out of 8 clues
-improper turn (did not keep his front foot planted, as instructed)

One-Leg Stand (instructions demonstrated): 1 out of 4 clues
-hopping

James was asked to provide a breath sample in my department issued PBT, with results of.112 grams.

James was placed under arrest. He was placed into handcuffs that were checked for fit and double locked. He was searched without findings. I read the Georgia Implied Consent Notice for suspects ages 21 and over, which James verbally refused for breathe. James was transported to the Oconee County Jail and booked on two charges, DUI-alcohol, and False Imprisonment.

A warrant was applied for, regarding the false imprisonment charge. The DUI was charged on a citation.

[End of Narrative]