Stephen Lodato

Name of Accused:
Lodato, Stephen Christopher

Date of Arrest:
09/10/2024


Charges For Arrest:
HIT AND RUN DUTY OF DRIVER TO STOP AT OR RETURN TO SCENE OF ACCIDENT – M
Failure To Maintain Lane – M
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 09/10/2024
at approximately 05:55 hours, I was dispatched to [2800 BLOCK] Wicklow St, Savannah, in reference to a report of a vehicle crashing into the complainants house.
Upon arrival, I observed the front of [2800 BLOCK] Wicklow had severe damage and that the suspect vehicle was not on scene. I made with the resident, identified as [VICTIM ]. [VICTIM ] advised that someone had struck her with a vehicle and left the scene. [VICTIM ] advised she was not injured and she was the only person inside of the house.
At that time, Ofc. Brent was next door at [2800 BLOCK] Wicklow St, Savannah, and learned this incident was possibly connected to a domestic dispute. I was advised the suspect vehicle was a black pickup truck driven by Stephen Lodato, and that the vehicle was headed to [1300 BLOCK] E 32nd St, Savannah. Other officers and I then went to the address on E 32nd, and made with Stephen. I observed a black in color Ford F-150 bearing Georgia Tag [REDACTED] with heavy front end damage.
I then spoke with Stephen. At that time, Stephen was drinking a White Claw, which is an alcoholic beverage. Stephen had bloodshot, watery eyes and was slurring his speech. When asked what happened, Stephen advised as he was leaving [2800 BLOCK] Wicklow St, a small bottle became lodged underneath his brake pedal limiting his ability to brake the vehicle, causing him to crash into [2800 BLOCK] Wicklow St. I asked Stephen why he failed to report the incident to the owner. Stephen replied, stating he let his girlfriend know about the situation. I told Stephen that advising his girlfriend, who does not live at [2800 BLOCK] Wicklow St, suffice for notifying the owner/resident of [2800 BLOCK] Wicklow of the property damage cause by the accident.
I asked Stephen if he would consent to Standard Field Sobriety Testing to determine if he was driving under this influence of alcohol. Stephen refused. I then placed Stephen in double locked handcuffs, and read him Georgia’s Implied Consent for Suspects 21 Years of Age or Older, and Stephen agreed to a state administered chemical test of his blood.
Stephen was then transported to the Eastside Precinct, where EMS met us to administer a blood draw. The only available blood draw kit had been expired for almost (2) weeks. Dispatch then went across all channels asking for a unit to bring a blood kit, and no units responded. Due to the blood draw kit being expired, Stephen was not charged with DUI at that time.
Stephen was charged with (1) count of Hit and Run, and (1) count of Failure to Maintain Lane.
Stephen was transported to Memorial Medical Center (MMC) and later to the Chatham County Detention Center (CCDC) by Cpl. Zimmerman.
This concludes my investigation.
[End of Narrative]