Steven Bishop

Name:
Bishop, Steven Jefffrey

Date of Booking:
05/06/2023

Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI-Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

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 05/05/2023 I was working and apart of an active license and sobriety check. I was advised that a subject was currently being detained and needed my attention to perform Field Sobriety Testing to see if the driver was impaired while operating a motor vehicle.

I then approached Steven Bishop and identified myself as Sergeant Houser and I was trained in Advanced Roadside Impairment Driving Enforcement and would be conducting their field sobriety testing if they would consent. The driver then consented to me conducting Standardized Field Sobriety. I asked Bishop if he had consumed any alcohol beverages this evening and he stated that he had a “beer on the back nine” and half a glass of wine at dinner.

I then had the suspect enter the instructional stance for The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test, I advised them not to move until told otherwise and ensured they understood. Bishop exhibited a lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and an onset of nystagmus prior to forty-five degrees. Exhibiting all six indicators for the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test is indicative of having a blood alcohol content of .1 or higher.

I then had the suspect enter the instructional stance for the Walk and Turn Test, I advised them not to move and ensured that they understood. Once Bishop began testing and made it to step four he never touched heel to toe again for the remainder of the test. Bishop also completed an improper turn and had to stop and balance himself after the turn by lifting his arms more than six inches from the sides of his body.

I then had the suspect enter the instructional stance for the One Leg Stand Test, I advised them not to move and ensured that they understood. Bishop then raised his right foot and counted quickly to eight, he had to use his arms to balance himself to keep from falling, he also dropped his foot immediately and said “that’s the best I can do”.

I then had the suspect stand with his feet together and his arms down by the side of his body. I then explained the instructions for the Lack Of Convergence Test and ensured that he understood. Bishop did exhibit a lack of convergence on both tests, which is common in someone impaired by substances such as alcohol.

I then had the suspect stand with his feet together and his arms down by the side of his body. I then explained the instructions for the Modified Romberg Test and ensured that he understood. Bishop stated that he believed it had been thirty seconds after only twenty-two seconds. This accelerated internal clock is common with someone impaired on a CNS Depressant such as alcohol.

I then had the suspect stand with his feet together and arms down by his side in the beginning stage of the Finger To Nose Test. I explained the instructions to him and ensured that he understood. I then observed Bishop properly complete only half of his attempts. On the other half, he used the pad of his fingers, or did not touch the tip of his nose.

After an overwhelming amount of indicators that Bishop was impaired, I placed him under arrest for suspicion of driving while impaired. I read him Georgia’s Implied Consent Notice and he agreed to a test of his blood. Bishop was transported to jail without incident and his blood sample collected by medical personnel. Bishop’s vehicle was turned over to [REDACTED] per his request.

[End of Narrative]