Lhayla Najam

Name:
Najam, Lhayla M

Date of Booking:
07/14/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Marijuana Possession less 1 oz.

Seat Belt Violation

Probation Violation

Obstruction of Officer

Reckless Driving

Cruelty to Children

Child Restraint Violation

Fleeing to elude

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 07/14/26 I, Officer Arriaza conducted a traffic stop on a red Hyundai SUV (GA TAG: [REDACTED]) due to it being operated by Lhayla Najam (DOB: [REDACTED]) who was wanted out of Walton County for Felony Probation Violation (WNO: 23CR07564 / DOW: 07/06/26).

Officer Couch observed the vehicle traveling westbound on Highway 78 approaching my location at Cedar Ridge Road. As the vehicle passed my located I was able to confirm the vehicle and the driver as mentioned. I previously arrested Najam in the listed vehicle in January of 2026 for a similar warrant. I then got behind the vehicle and activated my emergency blue lights and conducted a traffic stop due to the active warrant for her arrest.

Once the vehicle came to a stop, I made contact with Najam and asked for her driver’s license. She then began looking around the vehicle and was unable to find it so I provided her with a notepad and pen and asked her to write down her name and date of birth. She complied with my requested and provided the name and date birth as Lhayla Najam DOB: [REDACTED].

I then asked Najam to exit the vehicle and she became confrontational. I then informed Najam that she had a warrant for her arrest and told her to step out of the vehicle again. She was told approximately 10 times to exit the vehicle and would not comply with the lawful commands. Najam then stepped on the gas pedal and fled the traffic stop westbound down Highway 78 initiating a vehicle pursuit.

Officer Couch and I advised dispatch we were now in a vehicle pursuit. We requested for the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia State Patrol to be notified. Officer Couch handled the radio traffic during the pursuit notifying dispatch and supervision with direction of travel, speeds, and traffic conditions. As we approached Tipperary Circle I notified dispatch we were at 110 mph, the posted speed limit is 55 mph. Najam was operating the vehicle in a reckless manner that was a danger to the general motoring public. She was weaving in and out of traffic, driving on the grass shoulder, driving on the wrong side of the road all while maintaining a high rate of speed.

The chase would continue down Highway 78 and make a left turn on Sardis Church Road where Najam failed to yield to oncoming traffic as she crossed over the eastbound lanes of Highway 78. She then continues onto Sardis Church Road and over HD Atha Road after running the stop sign at a high rate of speed. She would then make a left onto Youth Monroe Road again running another stop sign at a high rate of speed. The vehicle pursuit would then come to an end in the area of Youth Monroe Road and Broadnax Mill Road. Najam attempted to make a right hand turn at a high rate of speed while running a stop sign and then lost control of the vehicle causing her vehicle to leave the roadway. She then reentered the roadway a struck truck a white Chevy 2500 pickup truck (GA TAG: [REDACTED]) on the passenger rear.

Once the vehicle came to a stop after causing a motor vehicle accident I approached the driver side of the vehicle and opened the door. Upon getting the door open I grabbed Najam and removed her from the vehicle and placed her onto the ground where she was taken into custody. She was placed in handcuffs behind her back that were double locked and checked for fit. Officer Couch was also on scene checked on the passenger of the vehicle ([VICTIM #1], DOB: [REDACTED]) and the driver of the vehicle that was struck ([VICTIM #2], DOB:[REDACTED]). The juvenile was extremely emotional as she was crying and breathing heavily. She was watched over by Officers and Deputies on scene until EMS arrived.

Several Deputies arrived on scene shortly after and assisted units on scene. TFC3 J. James #172 with the Georgia State Patrol arrived on scene to work the accident (C001057629). The passenger [VICTIM #1] was transported to Piedmont Walton by EMS for minor injuries upon the arrival of her grandmother [REDACTED], DOB: [REDACTED]. A female Deputy arrived on scene and search L. Najam prior to her being placed in the rear of my patrol vehicle.

Taylor’s Wrecker Service was contacted to recover the vehicle that fled. An inventory of the vehicle was conducted prior to the vehicle being towed. During the course of the inventory, the odor of marijuana was detected emitting from the truck of the vehicle. Inside of the truck a clear Ziploc bag with two balled up receipts inside of it was located. Inside of one of the receipts a small quantity of marijuana was located. The marijuana was later weighted at (.04 grams) and submitted into evidence.

Lhayla was read her Miranda Rights and refused to speak. She was then transported to the Walton County Jail after being cleared by EMS on scene. The jail would later refuse her and she would be transported to Piedmont Walton where she was cleared and then taken to the Walton County Jail. Additional charges were taken on Lhayla following the pursuit.

A Vehicle Pursuit Form and Use of Force Form were completed and submitted. Photos taken were attached to the files.

[End of Narrative]