Sean Swinford

Name:
Swinford, Sean Michael

Date of Booking:
06/01/2026

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 6/1/2026 at approximately 1456 hours, I, Officer Haven, was working speed detection in the area of Shattuck Industrial Blvd and N Industrial Loop. I observed the listed vehicle, a red 2000 Ford F150, turn left onto Shattuck Industrial Blvd from N Industrial Loop and take off at a high rate of speed. I then used my agency provided LIDAR device and locked the vehicle’s speed at 52mph in a 35mph zone. I then conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, stopping at Shattuck Industrial Blvd and S Hwy 27.

I approached the driver side of the vehicle and began speaking with the driver, Mr Sean Swinford. I told him that the reason for the stop was that he was speeding, going 52mph in a 35 mph zone. He stated that he was sorry that he did not know what the speed limit was and was not paying attention to his speed.

The driver had constricted pupils, was profusely sweating. He was speaking fast and slurring his words. He was talking with his hands and was fumbling around looking for his documents. I asked him for his driver’s license and proof of insurance. He handed me his license and could not find the insurance card. He then asked me what it looked like, and then stated “oh yeah it’s a card”. He then continued to talk about how he knew one day he would be stopped and this would happen where he could not find the insurance card. He would lose focus on what he was doing and get side tracked and start another conversation about something.

I asked him if he had taken anything and he stated that he did not, he was just having a panic attack. He stated that he went to ROPER Corp for an interview and a drug test. He stated that he got worked up when he left the interview. He stated that he saw me and that he was talking to himself. He then began speaking about how he has a lot of things going on in his life. He then asked to step out of the vehicle to locate the insurance card.

He then asked if I could grab his gun out of the car for him, because he did not want to go near it. I then grabbed his Taurus G3C 9mm pistol, SN-1KA41102, and unloaded it and separated the magazine from the gun. He then began looking through the vehicle. He then located the insurance card after he passed it multiple times. I then asked him to step toward the rear of the vehicle.

I then asked him if he was willing to do any tests to see if he was safe to drive. He stated that he was not drinking today so he would. We then began the tests.

The first test was Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus. I had the driver get into the starting position. I then gave him the instructions and asked him if he understood them. He stated that he did. I then asked him if he had any recent head injuries and he stated that he was not sure. I asked him if he was not sure if he had been hit in the head recently and he stated that he used to play football.

I then checked for equal pupil size and equal tracking. While doing that, Mr. Swinford made multiple comments about he was sorry and he was just nervous. He had to be told multiple times to follow my finger with his eyes and to stop moving his head. I did not observe any clues during this test. We then moved to the next test.

The next test was the Walk and Turn. I had Mr. Swinford get into the starting position. I then told him to remain in this position until he was told to do anything else. I asked him if he understood and he stated that he did. I then demonstrated the test and asked him if he understood the test. He stated that he did. I then told him to begin when he was ready.

During the first pass, Mr. Swinford took 11 steps down, missed heel to toe, then turned improperly and stopped because he said he could not remember how he was supposed to turn. He also did not look at his feet as he walked and he did not count out loud as he was told to in the instructions. On the 2nd pass back, Mr Swinford only took 6 steps, then stopped the test and stated that he felt stupid doing the test. He also did not look at his feet or count out loud on the way back. We then moved to the next test.

The next test was the One Leg Stand. I had the driver get into the starting position. I then gave him the instructions and asked him if he understood them. He stated that he did. I then told him that if he understood the instructions, then he may begin whenever he was ready.

Mr. Swinford then lifted his leg, immediately raised his arm, and then put his foot down and stated that his leg was shaking and that he felt stupid. I told him to try again and he started again. He got 5 seconds into it and started hopping and put his foot down. I then told him to keep going and he started swaying and put his foot down for a third time. At this point I ended the test for his safety. He then stated that he was sorry and that he wanted to cry and that he wanted his mother. We then moved to the next test.

The next test was Lack of convergence. I had the driver get into the starting position. I then gave him the instructions and asked him if he understood them. He stated that he did. I then began the test. I asked him if he could see the tip of my finger and he started laughing. He then said sorry, and that he thought I was making a joke. Mr. Swinford did not show a lack of convergence. We then moved to the next test.

I had the driver get into the starting position. He then began huffing and puffing. I asked him if he was ready and he stated that he was mad because he remembered when he gassed the vehicle and that he was an idiot. I asked him if he was ready to proceed and he stated that he was. I then gave him the instructions and asked him if he understood them. He stated that he did.

I then told him to begin. He stopped the test at 22 seconds, which is outside the normal 25-35 seconds. I asked him how he counted and he stated that he counted by 1, 2, 3 and not 1, 1000, 2, 1000 etc. He then stated that he thought he was counting too slow and requested to try again. I told him that we were moving to the next test.

The next test was the Finger to Nose. I had the driver get into the starting position. I then gave him the instructions and demonstrated the test. I asked him if he understood the test and he stated that he did. We then began the test. I gave the commands in this order, Left, Right, Left, Right, Right, Left. The driver only touched finger to nose 2 out of 6 times.

I then asked him if he was sure that he had not taken anything today and he stated that he did not. I asked him if he took any prescription medication and he stated that he took his suboxone around 0800 this morning. I then placed Mr. Swinford into custody for suspicion of DUI drugs (cit# 135000783) and speeding (cit# 135000784). He then stated that he told me he took his suboxone.

I handcuffed him behind the back, checked for proper fit and double locked them. I then searched him for weapons and contraband, none were found. I then read him the Georgia Implied Consent notice for suspects over the age of 21. I then requested a blood test. Mr. Swinford agreed.

I then allowed him to smoke a cigarette while we attempted to get someone to come and get the vehicle. We could not get someone to retrieve the vehicle in a timely manner. I then called for the next list wrecker for the vehicle. I then searched the rear of my patrol car for weapons and contraband, none were found. I then placed him into the back of my patrol car. Joe’s wrecker service came and took the vehicle.

I recovered Mr. Swinford’s Taurus firearm, 2 magazines and 20 rounds of ammunition for safekeeping. They were logged and placed into evidence locker 5. Mr. Swinford was then transported to the Walker County Jail. He was turned over to jail staff without incident. I then searched the rear of my patrol car for weapons and contraband, none were found. Sgt Hunt then arrived at the jail to conduct the blood test. Mr. Swinford refused the blood test at the jail. I then completed a DD-1205 ALS form and served him with his license suspension.

[End of Narrative]