Thomas Purvey

Name:
Purvey, Thomas Lewis

Date of Booking:
05/31/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI – ALCOHOL/CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE PRESENT IN BLOOD/URINE

PROBATION VIOLATION (WHEN PROBATION TERMS ARE ALTERED) FOR FINGEPRINTABLE CHARGE – MISDEMEANOR

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.]

[NARRATIVE #1 on May 31, 2026]

On 5/31/2026 at approximately 7:51 pm I Ofc. Etheridge, responded to [700 BLOCK] Martin Luther King Jr Ave in reference to a fight.

Upon arrival on scene, there were no sign of any disturbance. As the investigation into the fight was concluded, a suspicious vehicle was identified by Sgt. Courtien. The vehicle in question was a silver Toyota Camry Ga tag [REDACTED]. The Camry was running with 3 male subjects inside with the strong odor of marijuana emitting from within. As Sgt. Courtien made contact with the driver, I spoke with the rear passengers and asked the for their identification.

As I entered the subject’s information through the criminal database, one of the subjects, identified as Eric Poole, was shown to have a warrant out of Sumter County, as well as having a warrant from the Sandersville Police Department. I asked dispatch to confirm the warrant from Sumter County and detained Poole in the meantime. Dispatch was then able to confirm the warrant from Sumter County.

Poole was then transported to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for booking and processing. Upon arrival to the Sheriff’s Office, custody of Poole was relinquished to the jail staff. I then left the scene and retuned to service.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on May 31, 2026]

On May 31, 2026, at approximately 1951 hours, I, Sgt. Joseph Courtien (113), was at the Washington Manor Apartments handling an unrelated call for service. Upon clearing that call, I observed a gray Toyota Camry parked in the apartment complex parking lot with the engine running and three occupants seated inside the vehicle. While observing the vehicle, I noticed smoke emanating from the interior and immediately detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

I approached the vehicle and made contact with the driver, who was identified as Thomas Purvey. While I spoke with Mr. Purvey, Officer Etheridge obtained information from the passengers. As I stood next to the driver’s side window, the odor of marijuana became even stronger and was clearly originating from within the vehicle.

I asked Mr. Purvey if he had been smoking marijuana and how much marijuana was inside the vehicle. Mr. Purvey stated that he had smoked one marijuana blunt prior to leaving his residence at approximately 1900 hours. He also stated that he only had a small amount of marijuana inside the vehicle.

Based on Mr. Purvey’s admission to recently smoking marijuana, the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, and the fact that the vehicle was running while Mr. Purvey was seated in the driver’s seat and in actual physical control of the vehicle, I advised him that I would be conducting Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs). Mr. Purvey exited the vehicle and complied with my instructions.

During the ARIDE pre-screening, I observed that Mr. Purvey’s eyes appeared bloodshot and watery. His eyelids appeared droopy, and he displayed a relaxed demeanor consistent with marijuana impairment. Mr. Purvey admitted to smoking marijuana approximately one hour prior to my contact with him.

SFST OBSERVATIONS:

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN):

I first administered the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. Mr. Purvey displayed no clues of impairment and no lack of smooth pursuit or distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation. The results of the HGN test were consistent with marijuana use, as marijuana impairment generally does not produce nystagmus.

Walk and Turn (WAT):

I then administered the Walk and Turn test. During the instructional phase, Mr. Purvey had difficulty maintaining the starting position and began the test before instructed. During the walking stage, he missed heel-to-toe on several steps, stepped off the line, made an improper turn, used his arms for balancing, and did not complete the correct amount of steps.

One Leg Stand (OLS):

I next administered the One Leg Stand test. During the test, Mr. Purvey swayed while balancing, used his arms for balance, and put his foot down before the completion of the test.

ARIDE Observations:

I also checked for Lack of Convergence (LOC). Mr. Purvey’s eyes were unable to converge and maintain focus on a stimulus as it was moved toward the bridge of his nose. Lack of convergence is a recognized indicator of cannabis impairment.

I then conducted modified Romberg balance test. After waiting for 132 seconds, I stopped Mr. Purvey and asked if he was counting and he stated he did and counted to 29. I then asked how he counted and he stated “In my mind”.

Throughout the encounter, Mr. Purvey exhibited indicators consistent with marijuana use, including bloodshot and watery eyes, droopy eyelids, and impaired divided-attention abilities as demonstrated during the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.

Based on Mr. Purvey’s admission to recent marijuana use, the strong odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle, the physical indicators of marijuana impairment, his performance on the SFSTs, and my training and experience in both SFST and ARIDE, I determined that Mr. Purvey was under the influence of marijuana to the extent that it was less safe for him to operate a motor vehicle.

Mr. Purvey was placed under arrest for Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (Marijuana). He was handcuffed behind his back, checked for proper fit, double locked, and secured in the rear seat of my patrol vehicle without incident.

I subsequently read the Georgia Implied Consent Notice for suspects age 21 and over. Mr. Purvey consented to a stateadministered chemical test of his blood. Mr. Purvey was transported to the Washington County Regional Medical Center Emergency Department, where a blood sample was obtained by authorized medical personnel in accordance with department procedures.

After the blood draw was completed, Mr. Purvey was transported to the Sandersville Police Department, where he was fingerprinted and processed. Upon completion of processing, he was transported to the Washington County Detention Center and turned over to jail staff for housing and further processing without incident.

[End of Narrative]