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Name:
Ellis, James Rolland
Date of Booking:
07/11/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI – REFUSAL
IMPROPER STOPPING/PARKING IN ROADWAY
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 7-11-2026 Sergeant Caraway was patrolling the area of Georgia Highway 178 and Cedar Haw Road, Reidsville, Georgia 30453 when he observed a white in color Ford F-150 with the Georgia license plate of [REDACTED] affixed to the vehicle. Sergeant Caraway observed the vehicle make a left turn onto Georgia Highway 178 off of Rocky Range Road.
The vehicle then came to a stop in the roadway on Georgia Highway 178. After coming to a stop, the vehicle then continued travel on Georgia Highway 178 at an extremely slow pace well under the 55 mile per hour designated speed limit. The white in color F-150 crossed the white in color fog line, failing to maintain it’s lane. Sergeant Caraway conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle.
Sergeant Caraway approached the vehicle on the driver side and made contact with the driver and advised him the reason for the traffic stop. The driver responded by advising Sergeant Caraway that his 4 wheel drive mechanism was stuck. Sergeant Caraway observed the elderly white male to have slurred speech and his arms and hands were shaking, as well as having pin point, constricted pupils.
Sergeant Caraway asked the subject to step out of the vehicle and back to Sergeant Caraway’s patrol unit to which he complied. As the subject exited his vehicle, he used the vehicle to support himself and stumbled, again using the vehicle to stabilize himself to prevent falling. As the subject walked from his vehicle to Sergeant Caraway’s patrol vehicle he was unsteady and wobbly on his feet, also using Sergeant Caraway’s patrol vehicle to support himself at times.
At Sergeant Caraway’s patrol unit the subject identified himself as Mr. James Rolland Ellis Jr. While running an inquiry of Mr. Ellis’ driver’s license and vehicle information through GCIC Sergeant Caraway asked Mr. Ellis Jr. if he had any alcohol to drink and he advised he did not.
Sergeant Caraway asked Mr. Ellis Jr. if he had taken any medications or used any other substances. Mr. Ellis advised Sergeant Caraway that he had a prescription for Carisoprodol (Soma) and had taken the medication. Mr. Ellis Jr. initially advised Sergeant Caraway that he did not take more than he should have. Sergeant Caraway asked Mr. Ellis Jr. on a scale of 1 to 10 how intoxicated on the substance he felt that he was, he advised a 3.
Sergeant Caraway advised Mr. Ellis Jr. that he felt he was under the influence of the narcotic and probably took too much. Mr. Ellis Jr. then acknowledged that he did potentially take too much of the medication. Mr. Ellis Jr. and Sergeant Caraway returned to the front of Sergeant Caraway’s patrol vehicle and Sergeant Caraway advised Mr. Ellis Jr. that he would be going to jail and that he needed to call someone to get his vehicle and his approximately 7 year old grandson that he had with him.
Sergeant Caraway asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle and Mr. Ellis Jr. advised there was not. Sergeant Caraway requested Mr. Ellis Jr.’s consent to search the vehicle and Mr. Ellis Jr. granted Sergeant Caraway consent for the search.
During the search of the vehicle Sergeant Caraway discovered a small white in color round pill with the imprint ‘SG 109’ on the pill located in the driver seat where Mr. Ellis Jr. was seated. Sergeant Caraway also discovered several small ‘Flash-Point’ brand cinnamon wine shot bottles that were empty throughout the vehicle.
Sergeant Caraway placed Mr. Ellis Jr. under arrest for the offenses of DUI, improper stopping in the roadway. Mr. Ellis wife arrived on scene and provided a medical prescription for his medication that was found and been prior consumed by Ellis.
[End of Narrative]