According to a Dalton Police Department incident report, On February 27th, 2023, at 12:48 AM, Officer Dykes responded to a BOLO from a concerned citizen on I-75 reporting a Jeep Compass was all over the roadway at speeds over 90 mph. Officer Dykes then located the vehicle parked in a handicapped parking spot at the closed business of Brymans Plaza South. Officer Dykes reported, “[I] pulled behind the jeep driver’s side, walked up toward the driver’s side, and made contact with the driver. [I] interdicted myself to the driver, later found out to be (Christian Cordale Petty, 26, of Ringgold) and explained to him why [I] was getting out to speak with him. [I] asked Mr. Petty what he was doing, and he advised that he was trying to find a friend. When Mr. Petty responded, [I] could tell that his speech was slurred and slow. [I] also could smell a strong odor of alcoholic beverages coming from the vehicle. At this time, Mr. Petty was on facetime talking with a female, and [I] overheard the female say that she was in Calhoun. Petty stated he was coming from Volkswagen in Chattanooga. While talking with Mr. Petty his speech was slurred and his eyes were glassy and [I] could smell a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle.” When asked, Petty stated that he only had two beers before driving. Sgt. Corso arrived on the scene to assist. Petty then demanded a sergeant, and Officer Dykes advised him that he was standing beside him. Petty then asked how long he had been followed and stated that it was illegal for officers to follow him beyond a half mile. During field sobriety testing, Petty showed several signs of impairment and refused to blow into a PBT. Officer Dykes reported, “[I] placed Mr. Petty under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). [I] then searched his person. After Mr. Petty was placed under arrest, he started to get loud and was very upset. [I] read Georgia’s Implied consent notification at the scene, and Mr. Petty kept yelling at me (throwing a temper tantrum) while [I] read it to him. [I] asked Mr. Petty if he would consent to the state breath test, and he would never answer the question. [I] then asked Mr. Petty if he was an American citizen as he was stepping out of the back of my patrol car, and he said that he was a “F***ing alien”. Petty was then booked into the Whitfield County Jail and charged with DUI and operating a vehicle without the proper decal. Officer Dykes then spoke with the 911 caller concerned citizen, via telephone. He described what he observed from Petty while driving behind him. The concerned citizen said that he had a friend of his and some close family members killed by drunk drivers, and he says when he sees vehicles driving erratically, he likes to call them in to make sure they are not impaired. The Whitfield County booking Staff advised after 3:00 AM, Petty gave them a breath sample on their Alco Senor and tested positive for alcohol with a BAC of .142.
Ringgold man arrested for DUI after 911 call from concerned citizen on I-75 in Dalton
