Terri Goodwin

Name:
Goodwin, Terri Anne

Date of Booking:
08/23/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Dui- Endangering A Child Under Influence Of Alcohol

Dui- Driving Under Influence Of Alcohol

Open Container Violation

Failure To Maintain Lane

Reduce Speed Passing Stationary Emerg / Towing / Maint Mv

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 8/23/2026 at approximately 2015 hours Sergeant Southern was assisting on a traffic stop that Deputies Bethune and Kell had conducted on I75 North at mile marker 331. While Deputies were standing on the shoulder, with their rear blue lights activated, a black Infinity SUV came by in the right lane.

Deputy Bethune noticed the vehicle approaching and pulled Sgt. Southern farther off the shoulder due to how close it was to striking their vehicles. There was plenty of visibility for the driver to see law enforcement on the right shoulder, and plenty of room for them to have moved over to the center lane.

Sgt. Southern then got in his patrol vehicle and caught up to the Infinity. It displayed Georgia tag [REDACTED]. The vehicle was traveling in the right lane and middle lane, crossing back and forth and not maintaining either lane of travel and straddling the dashed line. The vehicle also continuously crossed over the fog line on the right side of the roadway. Sgt. Southern initiated his blue lights around mile marker 332. The vehicle did not come to a stop until exiting at 336 where it stopped in the lane of travel.

Sgt. Southern made contact with the driver, Terri Goodwin. Sgt. Southern noticed her sunglasses were not on straight, and that when she took them off her eyes were droopy. Juvenile 1 was seen slouching down in the rear seat, who Terri later advised was her daughter. Sgt. Southern did not have his body camera due to forgetting it at the office. Sgt. Southern had Terri step out of her vehicle and come back to Sgt. Southern’s patrol vehicle. She had to be told several times where to stand and seemed confused and off balance. Sgt. Southern sat in his passenger seat and continued speaking with her. The conversation can be heard via the dash camera.

Terri stated she was going back to her house in Chatsworth and was coming from Applebees in Carrolton where she had met her other daughter’s boyfriend. Sgt. Southern asked Terri if she had any medical issues and she stated that she did not. While speaking with Terri, Sgt. Southern noticed the odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath and noticed that her words were slurred. Terri was asked if she had anything to drink at Applebees, and she stated that she really had not, that her husband is an Orthodox Jew and they live a clean life.

Sgt. Southern asked Terri why she didn’t move over when she passed Deputies on a traffic stop on the side of the interstate and she advised she didn’t see them. He then asked why she didn’t pull over when he got behind her and initiated his blue lights and she said that she didn’t realize he was pulling her over and didn’t see him. When asked why she couldn’t stay in one lane she said she had gotten into an argument with her husband regarding Sabbath. She again explained he is an Orthodox Jew. Terri had begun crying and said she didn’t want her daughter to see her get arrested. Sgt. Southern asked what made Terri think she would be arrested and she stated she didn’t know.

Deputy Dominick arrived on scene and Sgt. Southern exited his patrol vehicle. As Sgt. Southern was getting out of his vehicle, Terri began to step back to give him room. Her foot got caught on the curb causing her to loose her balance. She then fell, caught herself with her hands but slowly lowered her head onto the sidewalk as if unable to balance, skinning her forehead. She denied EMS responding to her and advised that she was fine.

Sgt. Southern then wore Deputy Dominick’s body camera for the rest of the traffic stop. He asked Terri if she would do field sobriety tests and she stated that would be fine. Sgt. Southern explained the horizontal gaze nystagmus test and Terri stated she understood. Sgt. Southern observed equal tracking and equal pupil size. He also observed lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus and nystagmus prior to 45 degrees in both eyes. Terri was also seen swaying during the evaluation.

Next, Sgt. Southern explained the starting position for the walk and turn test. Terri began walking before being instructed to and had difficulty staying in the position. She had to be told several times to stand in the starting position. After Sgt. Southern completed the explanation and asked Terri if she understood, she continued standing there staring at the ground and not answering. When asked again, she stepped out of the starting position, said she was sorry and didn’t understand.

Sgt. Southern again explained the test, demonstrated it and Terri advised she understood. During the test Terri stepped off line on steps 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, and 14 on the way down. She also missed heel to toe on steps 4, 9, 10, and 14. Terri used her arms for balance, and conducted an improper turn where she turned around and stood staring at Sgt. Southern before picking up her dress and walking normally back and getting into the starting position as if she was going to perform the test again.

Sgt. Southern then explained and demonstrated the one leg stand test and Terri said she understood. During this test, Terri swayed and put her foot down twice. She then apologized and said that she was nervous and autistic. Sgt. Southern then told her the test was done and she began attempting it again. She was asked again how much she had to drink and if she wanted to change her story and be honest. Terri then said she had a “fish bowl” at Applebees approximately an hour and a half ago. Terri’s concern was then on her daughter in the vehicle and how Juvenile 1 would be traumatized now.

Sgt. Southern placed Terri under arrest checking her handcuffs for fit and double locking them. Terri asked to speak with her daughter and Sgt. Southern told her no because he didn’t think that would be a good idea. Terri then said Sgt. Southern sucks and white people suck. She refused to put her feet in the patrol car and kept asking to speak with her fiance. Sgt. Southern had to pull her into the seat from the other side of the vehicle. Sgt. Southern then read Terri the implied consent for subjects 21 or over and requested blood and breath. Terri agreed to the testing.

Sgt. Southern then told her he would call her fiance to get her daughter and asked if her phone was in the car. Terri then said that Sgt. Southern was a “b*tch” and that her daughter was now going to “think all white people are b*tches”. Sgt. Southern was able to speak with Juvenile 1 and have her call [VICTIM #1], Terri’s fiance. He said that he would come pick up Juvenile 1. Juvenile 1 did not seem to be concerned at all with Sgt. Southern speaking with her or the traffic stop.

While searching the vehicle, Sgt. Southern located an unmarked styrofoam cup containing an orange liquid in the center cupholder. The contents were poured out on camera. The beverage smelled like alcohol to Sgt. Southern and Deputy Dominick. Bob’s Towing was the list wrecker and responded to remove the vehicle.

Deputy Dominick stood by with the vehicle until Bob’s arrived. He then transported Juvenile 1 to the Racetrac at Shugart Road and Chattanooga Road until [VICTIM #1] arrived. Sgt. Southern transported Terri to the Whitfield County Jail. Upon arrival in booking, Terri did not cooperate with booking personnel while they conducted their search. She did not follow commands and attempted to turn around on intake officer Zuniga. Terri was escorted to a holding cell and was therefore unable to give a breath or blood sample.

Sgt. Southern charged Terri with the following:

DUI Less Safe 40-6-391(A)(1) on citation WC506399
Failure to Maintain Lane 40-6-48 on citation WC506400
Reduce Speed Passing Stationary Emergency Vehicle 40-6-16 on citation WC506401
Open Container 40-6-253 on citation WC506402
DUI Endangering Child 40-6-391(A)(I) on citation WC506403

Terri’s license was taken and she was given an ALS form.

[End of Narrative]