Deborah Long

Name of Accused:
Long, Deborah Marie

Date of Arrest:
12/24/2024


Charges For Arrest:
HIT AND RUN; DUTY OF DRIVER TO STOP AT OR RETURN TO SCENE OF ACCIDENT
FAILURE TO OBEY A YIELD SIGN
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 the above date at approximately 21: 37 p.m. I was dispatched to the area of the Frederica Road and Demere Road Roundabout, in reference to a hit and run accident.
Upon arrival I spoke to [VICTIM ], the victim of the hit-and-run. [VICTIM ] stated that he was in the left lane of the roundabout in his Gray Honda Accord when a white Lexus entered the round-about at a high rate of speed. [VICTIM ] stated that he attempted to drive onto the left curb of the roundabout to avoid the collision, but the Lexus still managed to collide with his right front fender. [VICTIM ] stated that he stopped and so did the Lexus. The driver of the Lexus, later identified as Deborah Long, got out of her vehicle and walked up to [VICTIM ], stating “We know are both drunk, let’s let this go.” [VICTIM ] replied, “No i’m not, I’m not even old enough to drink.” [VICTIM ] stated that the driver appeared to be very intoxicated and even tried to shake his hand. [VICTIM ] stated that the driver then walked back to her car and got inside and he tried to tell her that she couldn’t leave until the police came, but she started to drive off.
[VICTIM ] managed to capture a photo of the vehicle, being a White Lexus RX with a Georgia Tag of [REDACTED]. At this time, I gathered [VICTIM ]’s information and provided him with a case card and explained the accident report while Officer Pittman 83 ran the tag on the Lexus. I asked [VICTIM ] if he could describe the driver and he replied that it was an older White Female with shoulder length frizzy hair that was brown. [VICTIM ] did not remember what she was wearing but did state that she had on a red scarf. After Telling [VICTIM ] that he was free to leave, Officer Pittman advised me that the address listed on the vehicle was [100 BLOCK] Arthur J Moore Dr, Saint Simons Island.
Officer Pittman and myself both drove to the residence and observed the White Lexus sitting in the driveway with the matching tag given by [VICTIM ]. I then got out and proceeded to attempt to make with the owner of the vehicle. After knocking on the door, I was met by Deborah Long who had the same physical characteristics described by [VICTIM ]. I first asked Deborah who the owner of the vehicle was and she stated herself, followed by responding yes to my question if she was aware that it was involved in an accident. I asked her who was driving during the accident and she replied, “I was.” We then asked her to step outside and explain what had occurred. When she did so, I could immediately smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her person.
I then asked Deborah why she did not stay to report the accident. Deborah responded by explaining that she was in the roundabout coming from Kings Way direction, when [VICTIM ] drove into her vehicle. She stated that when she got out, she observed no damage to her vehicle or his. She then proceed to state, “Since he caused the wreck I was giving him a break by not reporting it, since it was his fault.” We then asked Deborah if she could show us where the damage on her vehicle was. Deborah then proceeded to walk to the left of her house, where the car was located. While walking she was stumbling and I could still smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her person. Deborah first walked to the driver side of her car, but then turned around and stated that [VICTIM ] hit her on the right side of the car. With [VICTIM ]s testimony and vehicle damage in mind, I began to walk to the left side of the car and observed that the front left bumper of the Lexus had moderate damage and was actively leaking fluid.
This prompted me to ask Deborah, “Where did this damage come from?” Deborah walked to the front of the vehicle and stated, “I had no idea there was damage there.” She then proceeded to exclaim that she had not seen that damage at all. I then inspected the damage closer and observed that there was paint transfer that was a metallic grey color, consistent with the paint of [VICTIM ]s Vehicle. Due to [VICTIM ]s testimony of the accident, paired with the damage being consistent with [VICTIM ]s story and Deborah admitting to not reporting an accident with damage, I had probable cause to conclude that Deborah Committed the offense of Hit and Run.
At this time, I advised Deborah that I was placing her under arrest for the offense of Hit and Run. I then placed her into double-locked handcuffs behind her back and allowed her to be assisted back inside to retrieve her wallet, phone and keys. I then placed her in the back of my patrol car and secured her inside with a seatbelt. I then drove Deborah to Southeast Georgia Health Systems for medical clearance before finally taking her to the jail.
While inside the Jail I presented her with two Traffic Citations: Hit and Run (OCGA 40-6-270) and Failure to Yield (OCGA 40-6-72(C)). Deborah signed both citations and I provided her both copies for her records. I then booked Deborah into the Jail and turned her over to the Custody of the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office without further incident.
Due to Deborah leaving the scene of the accident and there being a 30 minute gap between the collision and myself interviewing her, I cannot lawfully determine if Deborah was driving under the influence during the time of the collision. However, at the time of interviewing her she did appear to be intoxicated and was acting consistent to what the victim described. Therefore, no charge of DUI Less-Safe will be applied to the incident.
The accident report has been completed and submitted through GEARS under this case number, at this time.
[End of Narrative]