Trey Ingram

Name:
Ingram, Trey Dereck

Date of Booking:
12/20/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
Dui- Driving Under Influence Of Alcohol

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

Following Too Closely

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.]

The following events took place on 12/20/2025.

At approximately 17:22, the Whitfield County E911 Emergency Services Center received and dispatched a “Be On The Look Out” (BOLO) from I-75 southbound around mile marker 339 in reference to an older model light blue Ford Ranger driving erratically and passing vehicles on the shoulder. The caller, [WITNESS #1] [REDACTED], reported that the truck had no tail gate and was exiting the interstate at the 336 exit ramp.

At approximately 17: 24, I, Officer Hill, was dispatched to the 865-Blk of Shugart Rd in reference to a hit and run crash. The caller, [VICTIM #1], reported that his vehicle, a gray 2024 Toyota Rav4, was struck by an older light blue Ford Ranger and that the truck left going southbound towards Kohl’s.

I arrived on scene at approximately 17:30. Once I confirmed that there were no injuries, I had [VICTIM #1] drive his vehicle to the academy parking lot. Once there, I asked him what happened. He, with assistance from his nephew and son, explained that they were driving southbound on Shugart Rd in the inside lane. They advised that they were stopped at the red traffic signal at the intersection of the private roadway leading to Murphy USA and checkers.

Once the light turned green, they advised that they started traveling straight again. While doing so, they advised that they were struck from behind. They each described the vehicle to me as being an older blue pickup truck with no tailgate. [VICTIM #1]’s nephew, [VICTIM #2], described it as having rust on the front and back.

After the collision, [VICTIM #1] stated that he pulled over into the center turning lane (CTL). [VICTIM #1] stated that the truck did not stop, continued southbound, turned around, and then passed them going northbound. [VICTIM #1] and [VICTIM #2] both stated that the truck was traveling in the wrong lane of traffic when it passed them. [VICTIM #1] was very aggravated due to the driver hitting his vehicle and leaving while his young son and nephew were in the car with him. They could have easily been injured.

[VICTIM #1]’s vehicle’s rear bumper had a scratch and scuff mark that appeared to come from a gray bumper.

At approximately 17:39, a Whitfield County Sheriff’s deputy (Badge #W904), stopped an older model light blue Ford Ranger with no tail gate bearing Tennessee tag #[REDACTED] at the Murphy USA located at 885 Shugart Rd. The deputy stopped the truck for driving southbound in the northbound lanes on Shugart Rd in front of the RaceTrac. Dispatch notified me that the deputy had the vehicle stopped.

Once I finished talking to [VICTIM #1], I relocated to the Murphy USA where the deputy had the Ranger stopped. Officer Cruz also arrived to assist. Once there, I spoke to the driver, identified as Trey Ingram. He was in an older Ford Ranger that was crudely painted light blue with what looked like regular household paint. The truck had no tailgate and appeared rather “rusty” to the eye.

I asked Trey if the deputy had spoken to him. He said that the deputy told him something about him being involved in a hit and run. Trey said that he did not recall being in any crash. Trey confirmed that he had been driving southbound on Shugart Rd around the time of the crash, but said that he never got close to hitting anyone. I took a look at the front bumper of Trey’s Ford Ranger. It was grey in color, which was consistent with the damage I saw on [VICTIM #1]’s vehicle. The bumper was so worn, scuffed, and damaged that it was impossible for me to tell if anything was new.

Trey stepped out of his truck, with permission, to also look at his front bumper. Once I was a bit closer to him, I detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. I spoke to the deputy to see if he noticed any smells coming from Trey’s breath. He said he did not notice anything but could not smell too well currently.

The deputy showed me his dash camera video of Trey turning left (southbound) out of the RaceTrac onto Shugart Rd. It should be noted that there are yellow delineator posts that separate the northbound and southbound lanes of Shugart Rd in this area. These make it impossible to turn left onto Shugart Rd from the RaceTrac without traveling in the northbound lanes. The deputy’s dash camera video showed Trey’s truck traveling southbound in the northbound middle lane of Shugart Rd.

I went and spoke to Trey again. He still denied being involved in the hit and run. Trey said that the only time he got close to striking a vehicle on this date was on the interstate and that it was a Nissan SUV. This statement seemingly confirms that Trey was driving erratically on the interstate, as reported in the aforementioned BOLO.

I asked Trey if he had any alcoholic beverages to drink today. He said yes. I asked him what. He said he had around three bud ice beers around 12:00. He showed me a bag of beers in his passenger seat. He seemingly implied that it was the same exact beer. The beers that he showed me were 32 ounce cans. I asked Trey what time he stopped drinking. He said it was around 13: 30. Based on Trey’s statements and actions, he had consumed approximately 96 ounces of beer in the last six hours.

I asked Trey if he would mind participating in a few field sobriety tests that I could make sure that he was safe to drive. He said yes.

I then explained and performed the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test to Trey. Prior to actually starting the test, I medically-cleared Trey by asking if he wore glasses or contacts, checking for equal tracking, and checking pupil size. Trey said that he did not wear contacts or glasses. Trey’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

While conducting this test, I noticed that Trey was swaying forward and back. I also noticed that his eyes were watery and slightly red.

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

• Cannot balance during the instructional stage
• Starts too soon
• Steps off the line
• Uses arms for balance
• Improper turn
• Incorrect number of steps

Trey lost his balance and got out of the starting position when I was still giving him the instructions. After this, he started the test without me even telling him that he may began. Due to this, I was unable to tell him to make sure that he counted his steps out loud. During the first nine steps, Trey took only eight steps before turning around. However, when he turned around he did so incorrectly. I showed him how to turn around once and explained it twice.

I then asked Trey if he would blow on an alco sensor. He said yes. He tested positive for alcohol with a brac of 0.131.

I made the decision to arrest Trey based on the following factors:

• BOLO that perfectly described Trey’s truck driving erratically on the interstate. Trey also admitted to almost crashing into someone on the interstate.
• Hit and run accident that also perfectly described Trey’s truck driving erratically and on the wrong side of the roadway.
• Video evidence of Trey driving erratically on Shugart Rd that was captured by a Whitfield County deputy. The deputy cited Trey for this separately. This driving behavior supported the other alleged driving behavior.
• The distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Trey’s breath.
• Trey’s admission to consuming a rather large amount of alcoholic beverages before driving.
• Trey’s performance during the field sobriety tests (HGN and walk-and-turn).

Based on the above listed factors, I placed Trey under arrest for DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. He was secured in handcuffs and searched incident to arrest. He was secured in the back seat of my patrol vehicle. I then read “implied consent notice for suspects age 21 or over” to Trey from my state-issued “Georgia Implied Consent Notice Card”. He agreed to the state Administered Chemical Test of his breath.

Trey’s truck was parked in the Murphy USA parking lot. He stated that his significant other did not have a license and could not come and get it, but that she would be able to call someone to come and get it. Trey asked us to take the keys, put them under the driver seat, and leave the truck there. I explained to Trey that we could do this if Murphy USA was okay with it being there. I further explained that if we did this, the department nor Officer Cruz and I would be liable if anything happened to the truck. He agreed to this. Murphy USA said that the truck was okay there until the fuel delivery truck arrived, at which it would be towed. Trey was okay with this.

I then transported Trey to the Whitfield County Jail, where he was turned over to booking staff, along with his property. Once Trey stepped out of my patrol vehicle, I searched the back seat for any contraband. Nothing was located. While at the jail, my duty weapon was secured in a lock box in the sally port.

I then operated the intoxilyzer 9000 to obtain the state-administered chemical breath test of Trey. The state test showed that Trey had a brac of 0.108. This is 1.35 times greater than the per se limit of 0.08.

Trey Ingram was cited and charged with the following:

• DUI – alcohol 0.08 grams or more age 21 or over (OCGA 40-6-391A5)
• Leaving the scene of an accident (OCGA 40-6-270)
• Following too closely (OCGA 40-6-49)

Trey Ingram did commit the offense of DUI – alcohol 0.08 grams or more age 21 or over (OCGA 40-6-391A5) when he drove and was in actual physical control of a moving motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol to the extent that it was less safe to drive and while his alcohol concentration was 0.08 grams or more (0.108).

Trey Ingram did commit the offense of leaving the scene of an accident (OCGA 40-6-270) when he, after being involved in a traffic crash, failed to immediately stop at the scene of such accident to exchange information or wait for law enforcement.

Trey Ingram did commit the offense of following too closely (OCGA 40-6-49) when he followed another vehicle more closely than was reasonable and prudent, which led to him colliding with said vehicle and crusing damage.

I explained the above citations to Trey and had him sign them. I also completed a Georgia department of driver’s services (DDS) administrative license suspension and implied consent (ALS) form. It was signed by Trey and will be mailed to the dds so that they can suspend his ability to get a license within Georgia pending the results of this case.

Trey Ingram could have also been cited with the following, but I elected not to:

• Reckless driving (OCGA 40-6-390)
• Too fast for conditions (OCGA 40-6-180)
• License – 30 days to obtain Georgia driver’s license (OCGA 40-5-20A)
• Tag – new resident has 30 days to obtain tag (40-2-90B)

According to alcohol.Org, a 190-pound male who had consumed eight 12 ounce beers with an alcohol content of ~5% abv (total of 96 ounces) would have a blood alcohol content (bac) of approximately 0.13% six hours after consuming those beers. The website further states “you are likely slurring your words and may have blurred vision. You may have obvious problems with body control and balance, and you may be experiencing impairments in your mental capacity. You should not operate a vehicle under any circumstances.”

It should be noted that according to Trey’s Tennessee driver’s license, he weighs approximately 190 pounds. It should also be noted that bud ice beer has an alcohol content of 5.5% abv, while this calculator was based on ~5% abv. Trey stated that he drank bud ice, meaning the number could actually be higher.

A separate gears report was completed under the same case number in reference to the crash.

[End of Narrative]