Suspected Drunk Driver Arrested in Buckhead

An Atlanta man was arrested last month and charged with a laundry list of offenses after leading police on a dangerous chase through Buckhead, an Atlanta police report describes,

On July 15, an officer attempted a traffic stop on a red Ford Expedition traveling southbound on Peachtree Road after it was determined the vehicle’s registration had expired and the driver had no insurance. The Expedition pulled into the Exxon at 2951 Peachtree Road, but instead of coming to a stop got on northbound Peachtree Road, the report says.

The officer gave chase, noting that the Expedition “failed to maintain its lane, all over the road reckless without any regards to any other drivers or pedestrians on the road way.” The officer pulled back, but when the Expedition turned into a parking lot at 3021 Roswell Road the officer tried to stop him again.

As the officer got out of his patrol car, the Expedition went into reverse and began spinning its tires, causing the officer to fear for his life and to pull out his sidearm. The Expedition then went into drive and headed straight for the officer, according to his report. He smashed out the Expedition’s window with his baton as he side stepped the oncoming vehicle. As the driver did not react to the window breaking, the officer became certain the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The chase resume northbound on Roswell Road, at which time several bar employees flagged down the officer and said the driver was a regular customer who often drove home drunk. Three or four minutes later, the officer spotted the man stumbling around 3434 Roswell Road.

As the officer approached to make an arrest, the driver, described as a white male with a full beard, blue t-shirt, and washed out gray/blue baseball hat, threw his hands into the air and shouted at the officer “what the f*** are you doing, dude?” The officer was able to restrain the driver, who refused a field sobriety test.

Back at the precinct, the driver twice requested medical attention and told officers he had defecated in his pants. Grady EMS came out to the precinct both times and told officers the driver’s complaints did not warrant a trip to the hospital.

The driver was arrested and charged with DUI, aggravated assault against a police officer, attempting to elude police, driving on the wrong side of the road, driving without insurance, driving with an expired license plate, willful obstruction of a law enforcement officer through threats or violence, improper/erratic lane change, driving too fast for conditions, driving without a seat belt, failure to obey signs or traffic control devices, and reckless driving. He was released from the Fulton County jail on a $12,600 bond on July 21, jail records show.