Name of Accused:
Cochran, Justin Dale
Date of Arrest:
08/04/2024
Charges For Arrest:
DUI-LESS SAFE
Reckless Driving
Hit and Run; Duty of Driver to Stop or Return to Scene of Accident
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 August 04, 2024
, I was dispatched to [4100 BLOCK] Highway 225 North in reference to a one car crash where the driver fled on foot. I arrived on scene and went to the vehicle in question, there I was met by the vehicle owner [WITNESS ]. While speaking with [WITNESS ] she confirmed that her husband Justin Cochran had taken the vehicle and left their residence at lot [REDACTED]. The complainant [WITNESS ] stated that after the car had crashed she observed a white male in a white tank top and red shorts leave the scene by running on foot. When I asked her which way he ran she pointed in a Easterly direction. I asked [WITNESS ] where they lived and she said lot [REDACTED]. I then got back in my car and went in the direction of her residence. While on the way I was stopped by [WITNESS ] who stated that a white male wearing red shorts had ran toward her and her kids in her yard. [WITNESS ] stated that her husband [WITNESS ] chased after the male.
I asked her where the male had ran and she pointed in the same direction the previous witness had directed me. Once closer to lot [REDACTED] I was stopped by [WITNESS ] who stated that the male in question had ran to a gray in color trailer and went inside. The trailer that she pointed at was lot [REDACTED] where Justin and [WITNESS ] resided. I stopped in front of the trailer and made my way to the front door, I advised other units that I was told he had went in the trailer. I knocked on the door two times before discovering that the front door was unlocked.
I opened the door and pushed it open where I could see the living room, I then said in a loud and clear voice : Sheriff’s Department”. A white male with no shirt and red gym style shorts came to the door and tried to close it. I grabbed the males arm and pulled him toward me and out of the trailer door. I then placed the male who was identified as Justin Cochran into handcuffs. After Justin was brought outside and into the headlights of my car I observed that Justin had several small lacerations on his legs and arms and some on hid upper torso.
While walking Justin toward my patrol car he began to become moderately irate and began to cuss officers. I then assisted Justin onto the front of my patrol car so that he could be properly ed for weapons. After checking Justin’s pockets he was placed in the rear seat in the caged portion. While trying to speak with all the parties involved in the incident Justin continuously yelled and screamed obscenities which could be heard outside of my car. I had to stop several times and open the rear door and advise Justin to shut up and stop screaming. I then went back to talking to the witnesses. I spoke with [WITNESS ] which is Justin’s sister in law who stated that Justin and [WITNESS ] were in an argument and Justin took the car keys and left: like a bat out of hell”. [WITNESS ] also stated that Justin had taken the keys and left the residence in their white Ford Explorer.
SGT. Hill spoke with [WITNESS ] who witnessed the crash. [WITNESS ] stated that she witnessed the white Ford Explorer coming down the road toward her house at a high rate of speed. [WITNESS ] stated that she seen the vehicle hit a speed bump then leave the roadway and strike a large cross tie in lot [REDACTED] then come to a rest in her front yard.
While on scene at lot [REDACTED] I went to open the rear door of my patrol car in order to advised Justin to stop screaming again. When I opened the door Justin made a motion toward the open door in which I attempted to stop him from exiting. While trying to push Justin back in the car he managed to step out of the car and resist getting put back in. While I attempted to get Justin back in, K-9 Officer Garren went to the drivers side rear door and grabbed Justin by his arms and pulled him back in the car.
It was noticed that Justin had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person, I could smell it every time I got close to him. It was also confirmed by parties that were in the residence that Justin had been drinking. Due to Justin’s irate condition and at times his unwillingness to cooperate it was decided not to read Georgia Implied Consent and to not attempt any form of SFST) Standardized Field Sobriety). Justin was transported to the Murray County Sheriff’s Office without incident. The vehicle was retrieved by Flood’s Towing and returned to lot [REDACTED]. The vehicle had extensive damage to the passenger front area rendering it unable to be driven.
[End of Narrative]