Taylor Peterson

Name of Accused:
Peterson, Taylor Lynn

Date of Arrest:
09/14/2024

Charges For Arrest:
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.]
On 9/14/2024 at approximately 1323 a motor vehicle hit and run accident was coming across the radio. It originated at E Morris and S. Grimes St. A white Ford Pickup had hit a couple vehicles. One of the drivers started to follow him and provided updated locations to dispatch.
I had just finished an unrelated call at 520 W Waugh St. I started heading to the area of N Thornton Ave and W Waugh St from Hawthorne. Officer Murdoch was in front of me as we approached that intersection and were informed it had already past the intersection. We turned on our emergency lights and sirens to get through the red light. The vehicle was already turning west on Crawford St as we did this. We turned west on Crawford. The vehicle was seen turning south on Valley Rd. As we turned onto Valley Rd the vehicle was seen turning west on Murray Hill Dr. When we were on Murray Hill Dr I could see the black Kia that was following the white truck. The Kia moved out of our way. We turned south on Fairview Dr. Then we turned east on Kenilworth Ct. The truck came to a stop just west of Mcbride St.
Officer Murdoch and I had exited our patrol vehicles. As I was coming toward the driver side of the truck I observed a male subject that had gotten out of the truck and was walking toward us. Because of the nature of him already hitting vehicle and driving erratically I drew my firearm pointed it at him and gave him commands to get on the ground. He had a blank stare and had to be commanded to get on the ground several times before he did so. I placed him in handcuffs. He had a knife in a sheath on his hip and a pocket knife in his front left pants pocket. I removed both from him and set them out of the way. During this interaction I had observed a very strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. It was discovered there was people who lived at [600 BLOCK] Kenilworth Ct. That stated they knew him. They said they have been helping him out for the last eighteen months. They had rented him a house on valley dr. They knew he is a military veteran and was going through a very hard time. They said they knew he was on a lot of medication for several medical problems he had.
I took him to my patrol vehicle and was able to identify him as Taylor Peterson from one of several Georgia state ID cards in his wallet. I brought him to the back of my patrol and had him sit in the backseats. I checked the front of the truck I observed it to have sever damage to the front end. I read Taylor his miranda rights. When asked if he understood his rights at first he stated for the most part and he guess he got the general consensus. I then read him each line from the department issued card. As I read each line he would say yes or ok. While rereading them he asked if I could push his hair out of his face. I did so. I then asked him if he would be willing to talk to us about what was going on and he stated nothing was going on. I explained he had hit a couple vehicles. He said he knew nothing about that. He said he was coming over her to see GG. He explained GG is [REDACTED] and [REDACTED]. He said they were very good family friends of his. He said he came to check in on them.
I asked him again about hitting the cars. He said he did know he hit anyone. I asked him if he had drunk any alcohol. He said no. I asked if he was diabetic and he said yes. When asked when the last time he checked his blood sugar he said two weeks ago. He told me he believes his blood sugar was low. I requested for EMS to come to evaluate him. I asked him when the last time he had drank any alcohol he told me two and half weeks ago. I then asked him about his military experience to try and build rapport. While I was talking to him he was indicating to me he was struggling from his military experience. I asked him if he was a united citizen. He said yes. I then asked him simple question to see if he was able to answer them to see if he was not confused about anything. He was able to answer all the questions correctly.
EMS arrived and they evaluated him. They checked his blood sugar. EMS told him his level. He asked them what that number meant. In my experience if you are diabetic you would have an understanding of the levels. EMS stated that his reading was perfect level. He also explained to EMS he was depressed and struggling about buddies he lost from the military. He said he is in a sh*tty situation and the people across the street have been helping him. I asked about alcohol again and he said no. He said he might have taken too much medication. When asked what he meant. He said he was supposed to take 200 to 300 mg. He then told me he took 300 mg. He said the medication makes him very sleepy and forgets things happening. He told EMS he takes twenty-one different medications he also told EM he was having chest pain. They checked that out and told him he was showing no indications of any medical problems.
I heard him say he was off Cleveland Highway doing lawn work. Officer hill was doing an inventory of the truck as it was being towed. Officer hill showed me a Clubtails screw diver alcoholic drink can that was empty but had wet liquid on the top and some residual in the can. He said he found it on the back side of the passenger seat. This location is arm reach from the driver seat. Officer hill explained to me there was also a firearm in the truck. Taylor stated he was ok with the [REDACTED] taking it till he was done.
Once EMS told me he was ok and not having medical issues. As this was happening his vehicle was being loaded onto the tow truck Taylor had gotten very upset and started yelling. I had gotten Taylor out from the back seat and asked him if he would be willing to perform some of the SFST. I asked him to do HGN and to provide a sample in the portable breathalyzer to show us there was no signs of impairment. At this time, he tells me he had some vodka about for or five hours prior. While asking him if he would be willing to do these tests he asked if he could talk with his friends. I explained I would have an officer ask them if they wanted to talk to him.
He started to try and walk away from me and toward the [REDACTED] residence. I stopped him and told him we needed to do the test if he wanted and I had an officer asking them if they wanted to talk to him. He started to get agitated and trying to walk away from me again. I grabbed him to stop him and he got very upset and started to try and pull away from me. We grabbed a hold of him and had to put him back in the patrol car. He resisted and it took another officer from the other side to grab him. That officer and I had to make him get back in and move his feet from the door way on my side. Because of his actions and resistance, I was unable to put his seatbelt on. He told one of the other officers as soon as he gets a chance he was going to run from us.
I transported him to Whitfield County Jail. The booking staff was notified we were on our way and he was being combative. Once I arrived at the jail I secured my duty firearm in the lockbox in my patrol vehicle. Jail staff came to my car and escorted him into the jail. I provided the staff with his property. I explained to them what occurred and what he was going to be charged with. Officer Cruz came to the jail with me and issued him citations for following too close, leaving the scene of an accident, and DUI less safe. While the jail staff was searching him and conducting their processing they went to take off the chain with a dog tag off his neck. He started being combative with them.
It was later discovered the [REDACTED] were identfied as [REDACTED] and [REDACTED]
[End of narrative]