Ashlyn Fauscett

Name:
Fauscett, Ashlyn Grace

Date of Booking:
03/15/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
Dui-alcohol, 0.08g Or More Within 3 Hours Or More

Hit & Run; Driver To Stop/ Return To Accident Scene

Failure To Maintain Lane

Reckless Driving

Basic Rules; Too Fast For Conditions

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 this date, 03/15/2025, I, Officer Hill, responded to the area of S Thornton Ave and W Emery St in reference to a motor vehicle crash.

Upon arrival, I observed a Whitfield County Sheriff’s deputy out with a vehicle in the driveway of [600 BLOCK] S Thornton Ave. This was a good distance away from the aforementioned intersection.

I then stepped out with Deputy Cobb. He told me that the driver appeared to be heavily intoxicated. He pointed out an alcoholic beverage container laying on the sidewalk next to the vehicle. He suggested that they probably threw it out of the vehicle.

The vehicle was a white 2013 Kia Optima bearing Georgia tag [REDACTED]. I made contact with the driver, who was identified as Ashlyn Fauscett. I did not see the other involved vehicle at the time. I asked Ashlyn where the other vehicle was. She replied “how should I know?”. I explained that since they were involved in a vehicle crash, I thought she might have known where it went. She further said, in a hateful manner, that she did not know where they went. She told me that the other vehicle drove off.

I later learned that the other vehicle was actually still at the scene of the collision, at the intersection of S Thornton Ave and W Emery St. It appeared that Ashlyn had left the scene of the collision but did not make it far due to her front driver tire being damaged. This was supported by her not knowing where the other vehicle was, and the other vehicle’s occupants saying that she thought that she was leaving (per Pfc Pressley).

I then started to question Ashlyn about what happened. She told me that she had attempted to “merge” and struck another vehicle. I asked Ashlyn which way she was going. She pointed southbound on S Thornton Ave (towards W Walnut Ave), but told me that she was going to Ringgold. She then told me she was actually going to Tunnel Hill. I explained to Ashlyn that Ringgold and Tunnel Hill were the opposite direction (North). Ashlyn seemed to think I was wrong and said “are you sure?”.

During the above conversation, I had Ashlyn step out of her vehicle. Ashlyn nearly fell as she was stepping out of the driver door way. I then had Ashlyn step to the front of my patrol car. She attempted to lean against her vehicle but I had her stand up. While standing up, I could see that Ashlyn was swaying back and forth.

I attempted to ask Ashlyn more questions about where she was at when the crash happened. I pointed to the outside lane and asked her if that was where she was at. She said she was in the right lane, pointing to the same outside lane. I then asked Ashlyn if she was attempted to change lanes into the inside left lane. She said no, pointed to the outside lane, laughed, and said “this is the right lane”. When I further asked Ashlyn if she was trying to change lanes into the left lane (inside) lane from the right (outside) lane, she said yes. She further said she was trying to get into the turning lane.

Ashlyn then told me that she did not care what happened to her, she only cared what happened to her passenger, [WITNESS #1]. Officer Akins later told me that he heard [WITNESS #1] say something about “she needs to go to jail”. Officer Akins also told me that [WITNESS #1] told him that they (she and Ashlyn) had drinks at D Food Collab and Crescent City Tavern.

Ashlyn then told me that the back driver side of her vehicle collided with the other vehicle. The damage on her vehicle was actually on the front driver side of her vehicle. I pointed this out to her, and she told me that this is what she was saying. Ashlyn told me that her vehicle struck their passenger side. She also told me that she immediately pulled over, which she did not. This is based on crash debris at the intersection of S Thornton Ave and W Emery St. She did not stop for approximately 416 feet.

I asked Ashlyn where she was coming from. She told me tunnel hill. This is where she had just told me she was going. I questioned her about this. She clarified that she had just left Crescent City Tavern. I asked Ashlyn if she had consumed any alcoholic beverages. She said yes. She told me she had one drink. I asked her what kind. She said she had a “single Vodka Cran”. Ashlyn slurred her speech as she said “single”. She then told me she knew how to control herself.

I then asked Ashlyn if she would perform a few field sobriety tests for me. She agreed.

Once Officer Akins arrived to assist, we moved over to the awning of [600 BLOCK] S Thornton Ave. This was so that we had cover from the rain for SFST.

Once under the awning, I spoke to Ashlyn again. At this time, I could see that her eyes were bloodshot red and glossy. The rain made this difficult to see before now. Once speaking to her, I could also smell the distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her breath.

I then explained and performed the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test to Ashlyn. Prior to actually starting the test, I medically-cleared Ashlyn by asking if she wore glasses or contacts, checking for equal tracking, and checking pupil size. She stated that she should be wearing contacts but did not have them in. She also said that she had some kind of issue with her retina, but that this did not affect her ability to track a finger. She said that it only made her eyesight blurry. Ashlyn’s pupils were the same size and they were able to equally track my finger. During the actual performance of the test, I observed the following clues;

• Lack of smooth pursuit: left eye
• Lack of smooth pursuit: right eye
• Nystagmus at maximum deviation: left eye
• Nystagmus at maximum deviation: right eye
• Onset of nystagmus before 45 degrees: left eye
• Onset of nystagmus before 45 degrees: right eye

While conducting this test, Ashlyn stopped following the finger with her eyes at one point. I had to remind her to follow it with her eyes. I also again noticed her swaying.

After this test, I explained and demonstrated the nine step walk and turn test. While Ashlyn was conducting the test, I observed the following:

• Cannot balance during the instructional stage
• Starts too soon
• Misses heel-to-toe
• Steps off the line
• Uses arms to balance
• Improper turn
• Incorrect number of steps

I had to put Ashlyn back into the starting position multiple times. She kept coming out of it. She had issues maintaining her balance while in it. She also started prior to me telling her to start. She missed heel-to-toe on steps 1, 4, 6, 8, 15, 16, and 17. Ashlyn stepped off the line multiple times. She stepped off of the line on steps 9, 15, 16, and 17. Ashlyn initially had her arms on her hips and not straight down. I did not notice this at first. This is a common tactic to help maintain balance. Ashlyn later told me she was a former cheerleader, implying that she has experience balancing in this manner. Ashlyn turned incorrectly. She did not leave her front foot planted as instructed. Ashlyn took only eight steps on her way back.

I then explained and demonstrated the one-leg-stand to Ashlyn. She advised that she did not have any types of issues with her legs, ankles, or knees. While Ashlyn was conducting the test, I observed the following:

• Swaying
• Putting foot down before 30 seconds elapse

During the test, Ashlyn counted incorrectly and stopped counting. She counted “1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8”. I instructed her to count “1001, 1002, 1003…”. I instructed her how to count and not to stop. She had to put her foot down after one second. She picked it back up and continued. I reminded her to count out loud. She said “did you want me to count out loud?”. I told her yes, again. Ashlyn restarted the test. Ashlyn put her foot down multiple times throughout the test. At one point, after picking her foot up, Ashlyn giggled and said “I haven’t cheered in a long time.” I ended the test after Ashlyn put her foot down yet another time.

I then had Ashlyn blow on my portable alco sensor. She tested positive for alcohol with a BrAC of 0.273.

At this time, I secured Ashlyn in handcuffs. I explained to her that she was under arrest for DUI.

I searched Ashlyn in front of the dash camera on my patrol car. No contraband was found. I then searched the back seat to my patrol car. No contraband was found. I then secured Ashlyn in the back seat with her seatbelt fastened. Ashlyn confirmed that she was a United States citizen. This was just before she loudly said that she was not a “fu*king Mexican”. I informed her that this was not a nice comment.

Ashlyn requested that we take her purse and cell phone to jail with her. Akins brought these items, along with her wallet, to us. I asked Ashlyn if she wanted her wallet too. She said yes, but because she was handcuffed, she could not get it. I explained to her that I understood this and asked if she wanted us to bring it to jail. She said yes.

I then transported Ashlyn to the Whitfield County Jail. I initially forgot to read implied consent to Ashlyn. I remembered within seconds after pulling out onto the roadway. Due to the heavy rain, which would have made it hard for Ashlyn to hear me and follow along, I decided to wait until I could read it to her inside the sally port at the jail. Once there, I read “implied consent notice for suspects age 21 or over” to Ashlyn from my state-issued “Georgia implied consent notice card”. She agreed to the state administered chemical test of her breath.

Ashlyn was turned over to booking staff, along with her property. Once Ashlyn had stepped out of my patrol vehicle, I searched the back seat again. No contraband was located. While at the jail, my duty weapon was secured in a lockbox in the sally port.

I then operated the intoxilyzer 9000 to obtain the state-administered chemical breath test of Ashlyn. The state test showed that Ashlyn had a BrAC of 0.265. This is 3.31 times the legal per se limit of 0.08.

I then completed a Georgia administrative license suspension and implied consent (ALS) form. I had Ashlyn sign her portion and explained the temporary driving permit. Ashlyn Fauscett was charged with the following:

• DUI – alcohol (0. 08+) (21+) (OCGA 40-6-391A5) citation #611471
• Leaving the scene (OCGA 40-6-270) citation #611472
• Improper lane change (OCGA 40-6-48) citation #611473
• Reckless driving (OCGA 40-6-390) citation #611474
• Too fast for conditions (OCGA 40-6-180) citation #611475

Ashlyn Fauscett did commit the offense of DUI – alcohol (0.08+) (21+) (OCGA 40-6-391A5) when she was in actual physical control of a moving vehicle while under the influence of alcohol to the extent that it was less safe to drive and to the point that her alcohol concentration was 0.08 grams or more at a time within three hours of driving. Her BrAC was 0.265 on the state-administered chemical test of her breath.

Ashlyn Fauscett did commit the offense of leaving the scene (OCGA 40-6-270) when she left the scene of a motor vehicle crash in which she collided with another vehicle. Ashlyn did not make it far due to her vehicle sustaining disabling damage to the driver front tire. Ashlyn was stopped in the driveway to [600 BLOCK] S Thornton Ave. The actual crash scene was at the intersection of S Thornton Ave and W Emery St. This was evident based on the other involved vehicle being stopped here and debris from the crash (including from Ashlyn’s vehicle) being there. The rocker panel from the driver side of Ashlyn’s vehicle was laying in the road at this intersection. There is approximately 416 feet between these two points. Ashlyn told me that she did not know where the other vehicle was and that they must have left.

Ashlyn Fauscett did commit the offense of improper lane change (OCGA 40-6-48) when she changed lanes even though it was not safe to do so, as there was another vehicle in that lane.

Ashlyn Fauscett did commit the offense of reckless driving (OCGA 40-6-390) when she drove a vehicle in reckless disregard for the safety of persons and property. She did this when she decided to drive in an intoxicated state in a manner that placed other people and their property in the path of damage and destruction. Her actions led to a vehicle collision, in which two vehicles were damaged and one of the other drivers was transported to the hospital for emergency care.

Ashlyn Fauscett did commit the offense of too fast for conditions (OCGA 40-6-180) when she drove at a speed greater than was reasonable and prudent due to weather conditions. Per Pfc Pressley, the occupants of the victim vehicle stated that they were traveling at the 35 mph speed limit and Ashlyn’s vehicle came flying up on them. At this time, Northwest Georgia was under a severe thunderstorm warning and tornado watch. There was heavy rain, storms, and wind.

These citations were turned over to booking staff.

There were no known medical issues or security risks.

The completed ALS form, along with Ashlyn’s license, was mailed to the Georgia Department of Driver Services.

Pfc Pressley completed a GEARS report in reference to the motor vehicle crash under the same case number.

[End of Narrative]