According to a Georgia State Patrol incident report, On March 14th, 2023, at 3:25 PM, Trooper Terry was patrolling on GA 53 near I-75. Trooper Terry stopped a 2006 Acura after observing the driver, identified as Micheal Tyrone Pender, 50, of Calhoun, not wearing his seat belt. Trooper Terry reported, “While [I] was speaking to Mr. Pender, [I] noticed the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. [I] asked him how much he had to drink, and he stated he hadn’t drunk anything. [I] asked him again, and he then advised me he had probably three beers. [I] then had Mr. Pender step out of his vehicle, and when he opened his door, [I] noticed in his driver’s door an open Coors light beer. He also had an unopened bottle of Canadian Mist in the passenger seat. (Later I located two more Coors light empty beer cans in the vehicle.). During field sobriety testing, Pender showed several signs of impairment. After being advised he was under arrest for DUI, Pender became argumentative and stated he wasn’t over a .08 and that he believed he was closer to a .06 BAC. He then requested multiple times for the trooper to tell him what he had blown on the PBT. After the blood test was complete at Advent Gordon Medical, Pender again asked what he blew, and the trooper advised him he blew a .125 BrAC on the PBT. Pender then became apologetic and seemed very surprised. Pender was transported to the Gordon County Jail and charged with DUI, open container violation, and seatbelt.
Calhoun man arrested for DUI after being stopped by trooper for seat belt violation in Gordon County
