Name of Accused:
Carleton, Tammy Lynette
Date of Arrest:
09/09/2024
Charges For Arrest:
Driving While License Suspended – M
Failure To Exercise Due Care – M
HIT AND RUN DUTY OF DRIVER TO STOP AT OR RETURN TO SCENE OF ACCIDENT – M
Following Too Closely – 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 September 9th, 2024
, at 0941hrs, I was dispatched to Market Blvd. (within the city limits of Port Wentworth Ga. Chatham County) to take a report for a hit and run accident. Upon my arrival, I made with the complainant (Ms. [VICTIM ]) who stated that as she was slowing down in a school zone, she was rear ended by a blue Honda CRV. She continued on stating that an older white female driver of the vehicle that hit her (later identified as Ms. Carleton) stepped out of the car, told her that she was sorry, and asked if she was ok.
Ms. [VICTIM ] told me that Ms. Carleton then asked if she could go around the corner to get a friend and that she could give her the vehicles insurance information. She also asked that the police not be called because her license was suspended, and she would go to jail. Ms. [VICTIM ] stated that she told Ms. Carleton no and that the police needed to be called. Ms. [VICTIM ] stated that Ms. Carleton then got back in her vehicle and sped off from the scene.
Ms. [VICTIM ] was able to get a picture of the fleeing vehicle’s tag ([REDACTED]) and showed it to me. When I ran the credentials through GCIC, the information returned as Ms. Carleton being suspended for ([REDACTED BY AGENCY]) She stated that the vehicle went around a traffic circle and into the Palisades at Rice Hope Apartment complex. I then sent the picture of the vehicle to other assisting officers and had them the apartment complex for the suspect vehicle. The vehicle was located in a parking stall at Bldg. [REDACTED] of the apartments. I then issued Ms. [VICTIM ] a by crash card and relocated to the location of the vehicle that fled.
While on scene, Ms. Carlton exited the building and walked over to officers on scene. I then asked Ms. Carleton by name to walk over to my vehicle and then asked her what happened, and she told me that she was in an accident and came to the location after she noticed that her car was leaking radiator fluid. (I did not see any radiator fluid at the scene of the accident or at in the parking stall under the vehicle). Ms. Carleton stated that Ms. [VICTIM ] slowed down in front of her and she rear ended her. When I asked her if she told Ms. [VICTIM ] that her license was suspended, she stated yes. When I asked for her driver’s license, she stated that it wasn’t on her.
Ms. Carlton was at that time placed under arrest (handcuffs double locked and adjusted to fit) for driving while her license was suspended and fleeing the scene of an accident. Her vehicle was released to Sapp’s, and she was transported to the hospital for medical clearance. Once she was medically cleared, she was then transported to CCDC where she was explained, signed, and issued a copy of her citations
[End of Narrative]