By Beth Alston
The Americus Times-Recorder
AMERICUS, Ga. — Claiming to have swine flu kept a local man from being incarcerated at the Sumter County Jail early Friday.
According to a report from the Americus Police Department, Lt. Terrell Coley, while on patrol at 1:52 a.m. Friday in the area of Lamar and Oliver streets, observed a red pickup truck driving east on Lamar without headlights. Coley said he activated his blue lights to conduct a traffic stop and observed the truck weaving in and out of the center lane.
The traffic stop was conducted in the parking lot of Burger King. Coley writes in his report that when the driver exited the truck, he began to stumble getting out of the vehicle and had the smell of alcohol on his body and had bloodshot eyes. The man was immediately placed under arrest and read the implied consent for drivers over age 21. The subject could not produce a driver’s license and was handcuffed and placed in the back seat of Coley’s patrol car. Upon checking the truck, Coley found a black Remington mode 700 .300 WSM revolver on the seat of the truck cab. Wilson Towing Service towed the truck, according to the report.
Meanwhile, Coley transported the subject to the Americus Police Department where he was tested on the Intox 5000, registering .198 grams blood alcohol content. The legal limit in Georgia is .08.
Coley writes that the subject “was afforded a bond, but refused to make the bond.” Coley also says that the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office would not take custody of the subject because “he said he had the swine flu.” The subject was scheduled to return to court Nov. 2.
Nelson Brown, assistant chief, Americus Police Department, when asked about this case, followed up and told the Times-Recorder that while the Sheriff’s Office would finger print the subject, they would not accept him due to his claim of swine flu. The subject did make bond of $1,286.
Sumter Sheriff Pete Smith was asked by the Times-Recorder about the policy regarding swine flu in the jail. While Smith would or could not state the policy, he said that “with an entity with 25 to 30 cases, you can’t be too careful.” When asked to explain further, Smith said he would get back to the Times-Recorder. As of press time, he had not.
Jason Ellis Frazier, 36, of 1000 Poole Gin House Road, Americus is charged with failure to maintain lane, headlight requirements, driving without license on person and DUI (first offense).
Copyright 2009
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