Orlando Perez-Santis

Name of Accused:
PEREZ-SANTIS, ORLANDO

Date of Arrest:
09/15/2024


Charges For Arrest:
DUI – ALCOHOL LESS SAFE
HIT AND RUN; DUTY OF DRIVER TO STOP AT OR RETURN TO SCENE OF ACCIDENT
DRIVING WITHOUT A VALID LICENSE (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 9/15/24 at 0020 hours, I responded to the area of Grove Park Drive and Stewart Street in reference to a hit and run. While en route, dispatch advised the complainant was following the fleeing vehicle and that one of the drivers may be under the influence of alcohol.
Upon arrival, I met with both parties inside the Grove Park neighborhood. Immediately, I noticed one of the drivers, Orlando Perex Santis, had slurred speech and was having difficulty standing and walking. Perez was attempting to pay for the damages to the other vehicle with a handful of cash, but his fine motor skills to manipulate the money to count it was impaired. The damage to the vehicles did not seem severe, so it was apparent that the accident had no bearing on his actions.
The victims, [VICTIM ] and [VICTIM ] stated that they were going to handle the accident civilly with Perez, allowing Perez to pay for the damages. I allowed them to discuss it withPerez until Perez handed them money and then took the money back.
I stepped in and asked Perez to speak with me near the front of my car. Perez was almost unable to stand. I noticed his eyes were bloodshot and watery and he had a strong odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath. He also spoke no English, making it difficult for me to communicate with him. He was calling someone on the phone and I asked him several times to hang up the phone, but he kept calling the person. I asked Perez if he had consumed any alcohol that date, and he started counting on his fingers: “One, two, three…”. Because Perez did not speak English, I did not feel he would be able to understand the instructions for Standardized Field Sobriety and complete it correctly, putting him at a disadvantage. Also, because of his condition, it would have been unsafe for him to balance since he was falling over by just standing.
I had Perez blow into my portable alco sensor, which gave a positive result of .166 BAC.
Perez was placed into handcuffs, double locked, and placed in the back seat of my vehicle. I read Perez Implied Consent for Suspects Over 21 and he stated he did not understand which I understood as a refusal. Perez was transported to Carroll County Jail, where jail staff took custody.
Perez was charged with the following:
DUI Less Safe – 40-6-391A1
Hit and Run – 40-6-270
Driving Without License – 40-5-20A
Perez’s vehicle was ed for any evidence pertaining to his intoxication with nothign being found. His vehicle was towed at the scene by TCR Towing.
I spoke with [VICTIM ] and [VICTIM ], who stated they were stopped at the intersection of Bankhead Hwy and Almon Road. Perez was driving directly behind them and did not stop. Perez’s vehicle did not stop and struck their vehicle in the rear. Perez left the scene, and [VICTIM ] and [VICTIM ] followed them down Bankhead Hwy, took a right onto Cedar Street, then turned left into Grove Park neighborhood. Grove Park only has one entrance/exit where [VICTIM ] and [VICTIM ] were able to stop Perez’s vehicle as it was attempting to leave the neighborhood.
An accident report was completed for this incident. All parties were given a case number.
[End of Narrative]