According to a Floyd County Police Department incident report, On January 22nd, 2023, at 2:32 AM, Officer Smith was dispatched to the area of Old Dalton Road and Beard Drive along with Officer Surrett in reference to a crashed car that was left on the side of the road. Officers arrived and found that the vehicle had crashed into a power pole and was abandoned. Officer Smith reported, “Upon further inspection of the vehicle, an empty opened beer bottle was located in the passenger seat floorboard as well as a wallet with the ID for John Austin-Oneal Peak, 24, of Rome, who the vehicle came back.” Around this time, officers were advised that someone was walking outbound in a red shirt and blue jeans from the vehicle. Peak’s ID came back to 762 Old Dalton Road. Peak was then observed walking back to the scene, and he advised that he was the one driving the vehicle. Peak advised he had misjudged the turn and crashed. Officer Smith reported, “At this point, [I] could smell the alcohol coming from his breath, so [I] asked if he had anything to drink that night. Peak advised he only had two beers. PFC Surrett asked him to be honest, and Peak advised he actually had 4-5 beers that day but did not feel drunk.” During roadside evaluations (FST), Peak showed several signs of impairment. Peak was placed under arrest for DUI. At this point, Peak began to divulge on his own that he had actually come from a local bar on Broad Street in Rome. Peak agreed to the state test, where he showed a BAC of .179. Peak was booked at the Floyd County Jail and charged with DUI, failure to maintain a single lane, open container violation, and duty upon striking a fixed object.
Rome man arrested for DUI after leaving downtown bar and crashing into power pole
