NAME:
Hall, Earl
DATE:
06/17/2025
CHARGES:
CROSSING STATE/COUNTY GUARD LINES WITH WEAPONS, INTOXICANTS, DRUGS WITHOUT CONSE
DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED OR REVOKED (MISDEMEANOR)
DUI – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS
FAILURE TO YEILD ENTERING ROADWAY
HIT AND RUN; DUTY OF DRIVER TO STOP AT OR RETURN TO SCENE OF ACCIDENT
KNOWINGLY DRIVING MOTOR VEHICLE ON SUSPENDED, CANCELED, OR REVOKED REGISTRATION
NO INSURANCE
POSSESSION OF A SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
WILLFUL OBSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS – MISDEMEANOR
WILLFUL OBSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS – 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.]
On this date 06/17/2025 at approximately 7:11pm I Deputy S. Reeves #521 was dispatched to the area of Chatsworth Highway at its intersection with New Hope Club Road in reference to a motor vehicle accident involving two vehicles and no reported injuries. I responded code 1 (no lights or sirens active) in unit #121. While in route Gilmer County Dispatch notified me that a suspected driver had left the scene of the accident and was possibly under the influence. I continued to the scene of the accident as Sgt. L. Robinson #534 had gone in route as well and headed towards the area of New Hope Club Road to locate the person leaving. I arrived at approximately 7:22pm and activated audio and visual.
After arriving I met with Mr. [WITNESS #1] as well as the caller Mr. [WITNESS #2], the current EMA Director. While speaking with them I heard Sgt. Robinson and Deputy J. Ledford #544 call out with the subject who had left the scene, and they were escorting him back to the scene of the wreck. Once Sgt. Robinson arrived back on scene and Sgt. Robinson confirmed he was the driver of the other vehicle involved I then spoke with Mr. Earl Hall and could immediately smell the odor of what I believed to be an alcoholic beverage as well as a skunk-like odor that was possibly Marijuana.
I asked Mr. Hall to step out of the vehicle so we could talk and as Mr. Hall stepped out of the vehicle, I observed him struggle to keep his balance stumbling several times and grabbing the vehicle door to remain standing. I then asked Mr. Hall if he had drank any alcohol today as I could smell the odor coming from him and he replied “yes I had a couple beers “. Following this statement, I asked Mr. Hall if he would be willing to do a Standardized Field Sobriety Test and Mr. Hall agreed.
I then walked Mr. Hall to the back of the patrol vehicle and as we were walking Mr. Hall was still struggling to keep his balance walking to the back having to lean on the patrol car several times to remain standing. I then began the field sobriety testing and the results were as follows.
Conditions: Rain
Weather: partly cloudy and approximately 68 degrees
Surface: Pavement, HGN on incline, rest slight incline and free of debris.
Attire: Black T-Shirt, gray sweat pants, unkonwn tennis shoes.
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) (3 possible clues each eye for total of 6)
Eyes: Bloodshot and watery
Glasses / contacts: Glasses
Color: Brown
Equal pupil size: present
Resting Nystagmus: none
Equal tracking in both eyes: present
Lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes: present
Distinct and sustained Nystagmus at maximum deviation in both eyes: present
Onset of Nystagmus prior to forty-five degrees in both eyes: present
Vertical Nystagmus in both eyes: present
During the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, Mr. Hall failed several times to properly track my finger as well as turning his head several times. After this and Mr. Hall struggling to keep upright and staggering too much, I decided to place Mr. Hall under arrest for D.U.I. Alcohol. When I instructed Mr. Hall to turn around place his hands behind his back, Mr. Hall immediately started resisting and became very agitated and started asking why he was going to jail. I attempted to explain to Mr. Hall that he was placed under arrest for D.U.I. Mr. Hall still refused to give up his hands to be properly handcuffed.
Deputy. Ledford then came over to assist with the handcuffing. Mr. Hall began trying to pry himself away from both of our grips and due to this action Deputy Ledford and I took Mr. Hall to the ground and was eventually able to successfully get Mr. Hall Handcuffed. Following the successful handcuffing Deputy Ledford and I stood Mr. Hall up and assessed him for any injuries he might’ve sustained during the incident and none were apparent.
Mr. Hall was then searched and placed into the back of Deputy Ledford’s car and read implied consent to which Mr. Hall refused. Mr. Hall was then transported to the Gilmer County Detention Center. After arriving at the detention center there was a small amount of green leafy substance in a baggie as well as a blue prescription bottle prescribed to Mr. Halls late wife, Ms. [REDACTED], containing Hydrocodone.
I then proceeded to speak with Mr. [WITNESS #2] again who witnessed Mr. Hall leaving the scene and he agreed to fill out a witness statement form and following the returns after running the tag attached to the vehicle Mr. Hall was driving which returned with no valid insurance and suspended registration.
Following this information Mr. Hall was booked under the following charges.
O.C.G.A. (16-13-30) Possession of Schedule 2 drugs
O.C.G.A. (16-10-24) Misdemeanor Obstruction
O.C.G.A. (42-5-15) Crossing Guard lines with Drugs
O.C.G.A. (40-6-391) D.U.I. Alcohol
O.C.G.A. (40-6-270) Driving while license suspended
O.C.G.A. (40-6-270) Duty to stop at scene of an accident
O.C.G.A. (40-6-10) No insurance
O.C.G.A. (40-6-15) Driving with invalid registration
O.C.G.A. (40-6-72) Failure to yield at yield sign
[End of Narrative]
