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Name:
Crider, Charles Franklin
Date of Booking:
04/18/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Schedule 1 Substances
Possession Of Drug Related Objects
Dui – Drugs (1st)
Change Of Address Or Name
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 04/17/2026 at approximately 2306 HRS, I Deputy T. Grier (Unit #220), responded to 1700 Zebulon Rd on a person being passed out in a vehicle at the gas pumps. I arrived, along with Deputy Z. Whitmer and Sgt. J. Fuller. As I exited my patrol vehicle, I saw a white in color 2002 Dodge Ram (GA tag # [REDACTED]) parked at the gas pumps with the driver’s door open. A crowd was stating behind the vehicle and stated the vehicle had been at the pump for about 30 minutes.
Deputy Whitmer arrived at the driver’s door and found the driver, Charles Crider (DOB: /1983), passed out at the wheel of the running truck. Deputy Whitmer also saw in plain view a glass cylinder pipe, commonly used to smoke illegal drugs, between Crider’s legs. Crider was also holding a “vape” pen in his hand. Deputy retrieved the pipe and then woke Crider up.
As Crider exited, I saw that he appeared confused, had a blank stare, droopy eyelids and had slurred speech. I asked him to walk to the rear of his vehicle. I asked Crider what drugs he had taken. He stated he didn’t do drugs or drink. I asked Crider about the glass pipe that was found between his legs. He couldn’t explain about having the pipe. I asked how long he had been at the location and if anyone was in the vehicle with him. He stated he had been at the location for about 30 minutes and no one was with him.
Due to his red/watery eyes, slurred speech, blank stare and being found in possession of the drug related object, I asked Crider to perform a field sobriety evaluation. He agreed. The results are as follows:
Medical:
Stated nothing wrong with eyes.
Did not have any issues that would hinder his ability to walk a straight line or maintain his balance.
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus:
Not wearing glasses.
Equal tracking and pupil size.
Blank stare.
Swaying.
Walk and Turn:
Attempted to start with wrong foot forward.
Lost balance during instructions.
Started early.
Again tried to reset with wrong foot in front.
Raised arms for balance.
Missed heel to toe.
Incorrect number of steps (8 on first set).
Improper turn: lifted both feet,6 of 8 validated clues.
One Leg Stand:
Sway.
Put foot down.
Raised arms for balance. Mumbled as he counted.
3 of 4 validated clues.
At that time, it was the opinion of this Drug Recognition Expert (DRE # 9210), that Crider was less safe to operate a motor vehicle on the roadways of this state. I placed him under arrest for Driving Under the Influence Less Safe Drugs. I placed Crider in handcuffs, behind the back, checked for proper fit and double locked. After seating him in the rear of my patrol vehicle, I read him the Georgia Implied Consent Notice for Suspects 21 and Over. I verified his age by his driver’s license and by Crider stating his age. I requested a blood test. He agreed.
Due to the address listed on Crider’s driver’s license being the prison address in Forsyth, GA, I asked him for his current address and how long he had been there. He provided me with his actual address and stated he had been there a few months.
I conducted a search incident to arrest of the vehicle Crider was occupying looking for the fruits of the crime of DUI. During the search, I inspected the Vape Crider had in his possession. A check of the manufacturers website showed the device contained THC liquid.
Sgt. Fuller assisted with impounding the vehicle.
I transported Crider to the Spalding County Jail. Upon arrival, EMTI [REDACTED] collected his blood sample with a GBI collection kit. She attempted the blood draw at 0008 HRS, but the tourniquet fell off. She attempted a second, with success at 0010 HRS. The sample was secured and placed into evidence at the Spalding County Sheriffs Office by myself.
Crider was released into the custody of the jail staff.
I obtained arrest warrants for the following:
DUI Drugs 40-6-391: Warrant # 26-EW-002796
Possession of Drug Related Objects 16-13-32.2: Warrant # 26-EW-002797
VGCSA THC Liquid 16-13-30: Warrant # 26-EW-002798
Failure to Change Address on License 40-5-33: Warrant # 26-EW-002799
[End of Narrative]
All information is sourced directly from the official, public court database. Case history is organized and curated by The Georgia Gazette staff. The “What this means:” explanations are written by AI and reviewed by our staff before publishing.
Court records are subject to change at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors or omissions. Nothing here is legal advice. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Case History:
4/19/26
FIRST APPEARANCE HEARING HELD — NO BOND SET, COMMITTED TO SUPERIOR COURT
What this means: Charles Franklin Crider appeared before Judge Sam Parks of the Magistrate Court of Spalding County. The court determined that Crider would be held with no bond on the Drugs charge and the Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Substance charge, citing active probation or parole as the reason. He was committed to the Superior Court of Spalding County to answer for all four charges. Arresting officer Deputy Tommy Grier was listed on the order.
4/28/26
BOND CONSIDERATION HEARING HELD — BOND SET AT $5,000
What this means: Charles Franklin Crider appeared before the Magistrate Court of Spalding County for a bond consideration hearing. The court, presided over by Judge Sam Parks, issued a criminal arrest warrant on this date (Warrant No. 26-EW-002796, Case No. 2026-02212) and set bond at $5,000, to be approved by the Sheriff of Spalding County, to assure Crider’s presence through Superior Court proceedings. The charges listed on the warrant include the Drugs misdemeanor, VGCSA Possession and Use of Drug Related Object, Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Substance, and Change Of Address Or Name.
4/29/26
DEFENSE ATTORNEY ENTERS APPEARANCE IN SUPERIOR COURT — WILLIAM IMHOFF, APD
What this means: William Imhoff of the Griffin Circuit Public Defender’s Office formally entered his appearance as attorney of record for Charles Franklin Crider in the Superior Court of Spalding County, Case No. 26FAH-0783 SLB. This document was filed and recorded with the Spalding County Superior Court on April 29, 2026. It confirms that Crider has legal representation going forward in the Superior Court proceedings.
5/5/26
PRELIMINARY HEARING WAIVED — COMMITTAL ORDER ISSUED, CASE BOUND OVER TO SUPERIOR COURT
What this means: Charles Franklin Crider, through his attorney William Imhoff, APD, voluntarily waived his right to a committal (preliminary) hearing before the Magistrate Court of Spalding County. A preliminary hearing is a proceeding where a judge reviews whether there is enough evidence to send a case to a higher court. By waiving it, Crider agreed to skip that step. Judge Rita E. Cavanaugh signed the Committal Order on May 5, 2026, formally sending the case to the Superior Court of Spalding County. State Attorney Wendy Carlyle, ADA, was also listed on the order. The four charges — Drugs/Liquid THC (Misdemeanor), VGCSA Possession and Use of Drug Related Object/Glass Pipe (Misdemeanor), Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Substance/Liquid THC (Felony), and Driving Change of Address or Name (Misdemeanor) — all move forward in Superior Court under Case No. 26FAH-0783.