David Terry

Name:
Terry, David Dewayne

Date of Booking:
 02/08/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
False Report Of A Crime

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

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 7 February 2026 at approximately 1540 hours, Deputy Rice was dispatched to 2545 E Walnut Ave for a private property hit and run.

Deputy Rice arrived on the scene and made contact with [VICTIM #1]. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that he was driving down the parking lot towards the Walmart entrance when a black Jeep Grand Cherokee, operated by David Terry, came up behind him, honking its horn. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that David had rear-ended him near the pedestrian crosswalk. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that David got out of his vehicle and then confronted him about almost hitting him.

[VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that he had pulled over into the fire lane, and David then turned right and departed the area. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that once he saw David leaving the area, he acquired the tag number on his Jeep and called 911.

Deputy Rice observed damage to the left rear bumper and exhaust on [VICTIM #1]’s vehicle. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that while he was waiting for law enforcement to arrive, he went inside and spoke with an employee about reviewing the camera footage. [VICTIM #1] was informed that once the deputy arrived, they would access the video footage. Deputy Rice ran the tag number through GCIC/NCIC and obtained David’s information. Deputy Rice had [VICTIM #1] identify David as the driver, and he confirmed that it was him operating the Jeep.

Deputy Rice provided [VICTIM #1] with report number 2026-00633 and informed him that he would attempt to make contact with David and cite him for hit and run. Deputy Rice informed [VICTIM #1] that the report would be available in 2 to 3 business days.

Deputy Rice was able to obtain the security camera footage from Walmart. Deputy Rice observed a black Jeep Grand Cherokee rear-end a black Chevrolet Silverado in the parking lot. Deputy Rice observed David exit his vehicle and confront [VICTIM #1] about the incident. Deputy Rice observed David getting back into his vehicle and departing the area. That video is uploaded to Evidence.com.

At approximately 1645 hours, the Dalton Police Department was dispatched to 301 to make contact with David Terry to report a hit and run that had occurred at Walmart on Shugart Rd. Deputy Rice made telephonic contact with Officer Thornton and informed her of the incident that occurred at the E Walnut Ave Walmart, and to inform him if the tag number matched. Officer Thornton informed Deputy Rice that it was the same vehicle.

Deputy Rice arrived on the scene at 301 and made contact with Officer Thornton and David. David informed Deputy Rice that he was at Walmart, and while he was inside, someone had hit his vehicle. Deputy Rice confirmed with David multiple times that this took place at the Shugart Rd Walmart, and he stated yes. Deputy Rice obtained David’s information and informed him that he would be in touch about the traffic accident investigation. Deputy Rice observed the front left bumper damage on David’s Jeep that is consistent with what he observed in the security footage from Walmart at E Walnut Ave.

On 8 February 2026, Deputy Rice applied for and was granted warrant number W26-237 for case number 2026-947392WM for David.

Deputy Rice and Deputy Vazquez arrived at 222 S Henderson St Apt 2 to make contact with David at his residence. Deputy Rice and Deputy Vazquez smelled the odor of marijuana while knocking on the door. Deputy Rice smelled the odor of marijuana increase when David opened his front door. Deputy Rice identified himself and asked David where his driver’s license was located, and he stated that it was in his car.

Deputy Rice and David walked over to his vehicle to obtain his driver’s license. David informed Deputy Rice that his license was upstairs. Deputy Rice instructed David to turn around and place his hands behind his back due to having a warrant for his arrest. Deputy Rice placed David in handcuffs, checking for fit and double-locking them. Deputy Rice conducted a search of David with negative findings, excluding his car keys. Due to David only wearing socks, he consented to Deputy Vazquez entering his residence to obtain shoes.

Deputy Rice escorted David to the door so he could advise Deputy Vazquez which shoes he wanted. Deputy Vazquez went inside the residence to obtain David’s shoes. While inside the residence in plain view. Deputy Vazquez observed a grinder and a rolling tray near the couch. While Deputy Rice was at the door, the odor of marijuana intensified in strength. Deputy Rice then escorted David to his patrol vehicle and placed him in the back. Deputy Rice asked David if anyone else was inside, and he stated no.

Deputy Vazquez made contact with the on-call narcotics detective and advised them of the situation. The on-call narcotics detective informed Deputy Vazquez that he would be en route.

Deputy Rice read David his Miranda Rights, and he agreed to continue talking. Deputy Rice asked David about the items lying out, and he stated what things, the cereal. Deputy Rice stepped away from the patrol vehicle for a few minutes. When Deputy Rice went back near the vehicle, he informed David that the warrant was for a hit and run and false report of a crime. David then started to spontaneously utter about the incident that occurred at Walmart the day prior.

David continued stating that he was just really mad that [VICTIM #1] almost took off the front bumper of his vehicle, and that he did pull up behind him, honking his horn. David continued stating that he knows he hit him and got out and confronted [VICTIM #1] about the incident. David continued to state that he then went to the other Walmart and that when he was there, that is when he finally checked the damage.

David also informed Deputy Rice that he did try to file a police report stating that he was at the Shugart Rd Walmart when his vehicle was struck. David also stated that he didn’t know it was going to turn into this. Deputy Vazquez asked David if this was his residence, and he stated yes. Deputy Vazquez asked David if anyone lived here with, and he stated a friend named [REDACTED] stays here from time to time. David informed Deputies that [REDACTED] was the one who had recently smoked marijuana inside the residence.

Deputy Rice and Deputy Vazquez then conducted a protective sweep of the 2 story apartment to confirm that no one was inside.

Detective McClure arrived on the scene, and the scene was turned over to him. Detective McClure applied for and was granted a search warrant for David’s residence. Refer to Detective McClure’s supplemental for information pertaining to the results of the search warrant.

Deputy Rice then transported David to the Whitfield County Sheriff s office, where he was served his warrant for the following charge(s): OCGA 40-6-270, Hit and Run, and OCGA 16-10-26, False Report of a Crime. David was also issued citation number 314847 for Hit and Run.

David was turned over to booking without incident.

[End of Narrative]