Entitled Woman Thinks She Can Get Out OF Hit-And-Run/DUI

Report:
On 06/09/2023,
Officer responded to the parking lot of Sakura/The Dollar General in reference to a crash. Central advised that the caller, stated that the other involved vehicle had attempted to drive away. Central advised that the victim stated that the other involved vehicle only pulled over to address the crash after the victim followed them around the parking lot. Central advised that the victim stated that the other involved party was requesting for the victim to not call Police.

Upon arrival, Officer made contact with both involved parties in the parking lot. I first made contact with the victim in her vehicle (2006 silver Honda Civic)

Officer began to introduce myself to the victim, the driver of the at-fault vehicle (2019 white Nissan Maxima), later identified as Stephanie, yelled through the passenger window and asked if it was okay that she get out of the vehicle. Officer immediately noticed that suspect slurred her sentence. Officer advised suspect that it was okay for her to get out of the vehicle.

Suspect got out of her vehicle and began explaining to me that she accidentally "curbed" the victim when exiting the parking space. At this point, Officer observed that the Suspects words were extremely slurring together, and that the suspect smelled very strongly of the odor of alcoholic beverages.

Suspect began to explain, without being asked, that she did not attempt to leave the scene and that she pulled back around in order for both parties to work out the crash, stating "that's not the vibe" and that she, "wasn't sure if she was in a private parking lot or not." (She in fact was.)

Officer asked the victim to explain exactly how the accident happened. Suspect stepped to the side in order to visually observe her own vehicle. officer noticed suspect stumble as she walked, point to her vehicle while stating, "I think, um, here it is," and drop items from her hands.

Suspect explained that she took a hard-right turn and possibly collided with the victims vehicle. Suspect stated that she drove to the American Red Cross before she and her passenger stated to each other, "Oh shit, we may have hit a car."

Suspect stated they turned around and parked, stating, "we parked here, and we pulled back up to her before

she realized that we pulled into her."

Officer illuminated the suspects vehicle with my flashlight, highlighting where the entire passenger exterior had been dented and scraped, and asked the suspect how they, based on the extent of the damage, could have not realized that they hit another vehicle until they got to the American Red Cross.

Suspect then recanted her statement and said that they realized they hit someone, however she and Solis decided to continue to circle around. Suspect then asked the victim to "contest" to the fact that they didn't pull off, stating that the victims "boyfriend" even said that the suspect was apparently attempting to "make things right."

Suspect was transported to the Athens Clarke jail.

Deputies came outside and escorted Strickland inside.

After booking her in, deputies inside the jail remarked on how strongly they smelled the odor of alcoholic beverage coming from her.

Offenses:
● Obstruction of LEO
● DUI - Less Safe
● Hit and Run - Duty of Driver to Stop at/Return to Scene of Accident