According to a Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office incident report, On December 2nd, 2022, at 8:30 PM, Deputy Sharpe was in the parking lot next to Save-a-lot on East Walnut Avenue near Old Grade. Deputy Sharpe observed a blue 2010 Ford Mustang at the traffic light on East Walnut and Walmart. According to the report, “The vehicle was in the far-right-hand lane to go eastbound. As the light turned green for traffic on E Walnut, the vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed and changed lanes. Deputy Sharpe had to get his Laser from the passenger seat. The vehicle noticed Deputy Sharpe and started to slow down. Deputy Sharpe clocked the vehicle going 58 in a 45 miles per hour zone.” Deputy Sharpe conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, identified as Jose Javier Morelos, 31, of Chatsworth. Morelos stated he was just trying to beat traffic because the lane he was in was about to end. Morelos returned through NCIC with a suspended license. According to the report, “Deputy Sharpe then had Mr. Morelos step out of the vehicle. Deputy Sharpe then handcuffed Mr. Morelos, checked for proper fit, and doubled locked the handcuffs. While doing so, Deputy Sharpe could smell an alcoholic beverage omitted from Mr. Morelos’s breath. Deputy Sharpe then read Mr. Morelos his Miranda Rights. Mr. Morelos stated he understood his rights and wished to talk. Deputy Sharpe told Mr. Morelos that he could smell an odor of an alcoholic beverage. Deputy Sharpe asked Mr. Morelos how much he had to drink. Mr. Morelos stated he only had one 12oz beer.” During field sobriety tests, Morelos showed several signs of impairment and showed positive for alcohol on his breath on a PBT. Morelos was placed under arrest for DUI and agreed to the state test. Morelos was transported to the Whitfield County Jail, where he showed a BrAC of .110. Morelos was charged with speeding, driving while suspended, and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Chatsworth man arrested for DUI after speeding on Walnut Avenue in Whitfield County
