Emily Peterson

Name:
Peterson, Emily Mae

Date of Booking:
08/25/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Speeding

DUI-Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

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 August 24, 2026, at approximately 2235 hours, Officer Jacobs and I were stationary in the area of Highway 27 Bypass and South Main Street when we observed a gray 2020 Toyota Corolla traveling northbound at a high rate of speed. Officer Jacobs utilized our department-issued LIDAR device and obtained a reading of 60 MPH in a posted 45 MPH zone.

I pulled out behind the vehicle and activated my emergency lights before the intersection of Highway 27 Bypass and Foster Boulevard. The vehicle slowed and continued traveling north on Highway 27 Bypass while activating its hazard lights. The vehicle then approached Villanow Street. I activated my emergency siren, and the vehicle pulled into the center turn lane and came to a stop.

I approached the driver’s side of the vehicle and made contact with the driver, identified as Ms. Emily Peterson. I asked Ms. Peterson why she was traveling 60 MPH in a 45 MPH zone. She stated that she was not paying attention and that her vehicle’s speedometer was slow, so she was attempting to compensate for it.

I requested her driver’s license and proof of insurance. I then asked why it had taken her so long to pull over. Ms. Peterson stated that she was attempting to reach a well-lit gas station before stopping. Ms. Peterson was speaking slowly and was very polite throughout the encounter.

While speaking with Ms. Peterson, I detected a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. I asked when she had last smoked marijuana. She paused and stated, “Umm…” before advising that it had been very recently. She further stated that she had smoked CBD before going to work at approximately 1100 hours that day. I asked how much she had smoked, and she stated, “Not a whole lot,” but admitted that she had smoked in the vehicle and that this was the reason it smelled like marijuana. When asked to clarify what she meant by “not a whole lot,” Ms. Peterson stated that she worked at 101 Smoke Shop and had smoked approximately half of a pre-roll before beginning her shift.

I conducted a GCIC/NCIC records check on Ms. Peterson and the vehicle, and both returned valid. I then returned to the vehicle and asked Ms. Peterson to step out. I asked if she would be willing to perform a series of evaluations to determine whether she was safe to operate a motor vehicle, and she agreed.

The first evaluation administered was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. I instructed Ms. Peterson to assume the starting position and remove her glasses using her left hand. I asked whether she had suffered any recent head injuries, and she stated she had not. I checked for equal pupil size and equal tracking prior to administering the test. During the evaluation, I observed no clues of impairment.

The next evaluation was the Walk and Turn test. I instructed Ms. Peterson to assume the starting position; however, she attempted to begin the test before being instructed to do so. I repositioned her and advised her to remain in the starting position until instructed to begin. She stated she understood. After completing the instructions and demonstration, I confirmed she understood the test instructions.

Ms. Peterson began the test and raised her arms while walking. She then lost her balance and asked if she could remove her glasses. I advised that she could, and she placed them on the rear of her vehicle. Ms. Peterson again assumed the starting position and restarted the test. She continued walking with her arms raised despite being instructed to keep them at her sides. After the third step, she stopped looking at her feet and began looking straight ahead. After completing the first series of nine steps, she asked whether she was supposed to turn around. I instructed her to perform the test as previously explained. She then executed an improper turn, stopped to steady herself, and continued the return portion of the test.

The next evaluation was the One Leg Stand test. I instructed and demonstrated the test to Ms. Peterson and confirmed that she understood the instructions. When instructed to begin, she initially failed to follow directions by raising her arms, looking straight ahead, and failing to raise her foot approximately six inches off the ground. I stopped the evaluation and re-explained the instructions. After confirming again that she understood, I instructed her to begin. During the evaluation, Ms. Peterson swayed and raised her arms for balance.

The next evaluation was the Lack of Convergence test. I instructed Ms. Peterson on the test and confirmed she understood the instructions. During the first pass, her right eye failed to maintain convergence and drifted outward. During the second pass, her right eye again failed to fully converge and drifted outward. Ms. Peterson’s eyes did not properly converge during either pass.

The next evaluation was the Modified Romberg test. I instructed and demonstrated the test to Ms. Peterson, and she stated she understood the instructions. During the evaluation, Ms. Peterson estimated the passage of 30 seconds at approximately 39 seconds. She also displayed rapid eyelid tremors and swayed during the test.

The final evaluation administered was the Finger-to-Nose test. I instructed and demonstrated the test to Ms. Peterson, and she stated she understood the instructions. I then provided the sequence: left, right, left, right, right, left. Ms. Peterson touched finger to nose three out of six times. She missed her first two right attempts and then her last left attempt.

After completing the battery of evaluations, I again asked Ms. Peterson whether she had only smoked earlier that day at approximately 1100 hours. She stated that was the only substance she had used that day. Based on my training and experience in DUI detection, I believed Ms. Peterson was impaired to the extent that it was less safe for her to operate a motor vehicle.

I placed Ms. Peterson under arrest for DUI Drugs Less Safe (Citation No. 1350000995) and Speeding 60 MPH in a 45 MPH zone (Citation No. 1350000994). I handcuffed her behind her back, checked the handcuffs for proper fit, and double locked them. I searched her person for weapons and contraband, and none were located.

Prior to transport, I searched the rear compartment of my patrol vehicle for weapons and contraband, and none were found. I then secured Ms. Peterson in the rear seat of my patrol vehicle.

I read the Georgia Implied Consent Notice for suspects age 21 or older and requested a urine sample. Ms. Peterson agreed to provide a urine sample.

I asked Ms. Peterson if she had someone who could retrieve her vehicle. She stated that her brother could come pick it up. I had Ms. Peterson unlock her cellular phone, and I contacted her brother to arrange for the vehicle’s retrieval. The vehicle was ultimately released to his significant other, [REDACTED].

Based on the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle, I conducted a probable cause search. During the search, I located a pack of CBD cigarettes, a partially smoked marijuana cigarette, a marijuana tray, a glass smoking pipe, multiple packs of cigars, and a grinder containing marijuana residue.

I then transported Ms. Peterson to the Walker County Jail. Upon arrival, I requested a female officer administer the urine collection due to the absence of female personnel within my agency during that shift. Officer Emily Gunther administered the urine collection.

I subsequently turned Ms. Peterson over to jail staff without incident. Afterward, I searched the rear compartment of my patrol vehicle for weapons and contraband, and none were found.

The GBI urine test kit was secured in the designated evidence refrigerator pending transport to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Laboratory for analysis.

[End of Narrative]