Victor Smith

Name:
Smith, Victor Brian

Date of Booking:
02/25/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
WILLFUL OBSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS – MISDEMEANOR

WILLFUL OBSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS – MISDEMEANOR

NO INSURANCE

HIT AND RUN; DUTY OF DRIVER TO STOP AT OR RETURN TO SCENE OF ACCIDENT

FAILURE TO REPORT ACCIDENT RESULTING IN PROP. DAMAGE

DUI – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL

FLEEING OR ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE A POLICE OFFICER

FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE

FAILURE TO OBEY STOP SIGN

OPERATION OF VEHICLES ON APPROACH OF AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE

HEADLIGHTS REQUIRMENTS

USE OF SAFETY BELTS IN PASSENGER VEHICLES

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 February 18th, 2026, at around 9:58 pm, I responded to the area of Experiment Station Road and VFW Drive regarding a vehicle pursuit started by Officer Higgins from the Watkinsville Police Department. Officer Higgins advised that the vehicle in question had fled from him and crashed.

When I arrived at the scene, I saw a black Honda Civic GA tag [REDACTED] was crashed into a telephone pole on the north shoulder of Experiment Station Road. The Honda was disabled, the airbags were deployed and there was a large head size break in the windshield glass. It appeared the driver was not wearing a seat belt and their head hit the windshield when they crashed.

I spoke with Officer Higgins, and he explained the male driver ran northbound through the woods. This section of woods was north of Experiment Station Road and between the sheriff’s office and Macon Highway. I coordinated with other deputies and set a large perimeter around the area to pin the driver into the wooded area. I also requested Athens-Clarke County Police Department Drone Unit respond to assist us.

Once the perimeter was set, Deputy McCannon and I began checking the woods north of the crash location. We located foot tracks leading from the crash location into Lampkin Branch creek. They crossed the tracks and went northwest towards the Georgia Department of Transportation Experiment Station Construction Office. Deputy Fowler was positioned in the path where it appeared that the driver had fled.

Deputy Fowler advised that he was able to locate footprints near his location. I responded to Deputy Fowler to assist him. When I arrived, I located Deputy Fowler and Cpl. Argueta working their way down an access cut through the woods. I joined them, and we continued down the cut until we reached a water tunnel going under Macon Highway.

The tracks appeared to lead into the water tunnel. At the same time, Officer Cameron #2359 from Athens-Clarke County Police Department had arrived. He deployed his drone and began searching the woods. Using his thermal imaging, he located the driver laying in the brush about 40 yards from where we lost the tracks. He directed us to the driver’s location, and we saw the driver was laying on his stomach attempting to conceal himself from us.

We gave loud clear verbal commands for the driver to show us his hands. The driver ignored our commands and stood up. The driver turned and ran away from us. We pursued the driver on foot and Deputy Fowler was able to grab the driver. Deputy Fowler pulled the driver back and onto the ground. The driver would not give us his hands, so I deployed my agency issued Taser in drive-stun mode. I activated the taser twice in drive-stun until the driver gave us his hands.

The driver was taken into custody and detained in handcuffs. We escorted the driver out of the woods and to my patrol car. While escorting him, the driver appeared to be heavily under the influence. I could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. His speech was slurred, his were bloodshot red and water, and his face was slack. I transported the driver back to the crash scene where Georgia State Patrol Trooper Matthews spoke with him.

The driver had a contusion on his forehead and some scratches. These injuries on the driver’s head were consistent with the damage seen on the windshield. The driver was released and transported to the hospital by National EMS. I used my agency issued RapidID to confirm the driver’s identity.

I later obtained warrants for the driver from Oconee County Magistrate Judge Connelly for three counts of misdemeanor obstruction. Between the crash location and where the driver was located, it was around 1/3 of a mile. A map of the two locations has been attached to this report.

[End of Narrative]