A local sheriff in Georgia had been drinking cans of Four Loko “for hours” prior to his DUI arrest by his own chief deputy, according to a report.
Gerald Jay Couch, the Hall County Sheriff, reportedly started on the caffeinated alcoholic drinks at 6 a.m. before being stopped later Friday morning while driving a county-issued vehicle.
As Couch was a sitting sheriff, the Georgia State Patrol were called to conduct a DUI examination.
The 63-year-old showed “clear signs of impairment” when stopped, including slurred speech and unsteadiness on his feet and had “a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage” on his breath, according to the GSP.
A full arrest report later obtained by WSBTV stated that the deputy who stopped Couch had “asked him what he had to drink and he stated [Four] Lokos.” The trooper also found “two 24oz Bahama Mama alcoholic beverages” that had spilled inside the vehicle.
Four Loko typically has an alcohol by volume level (ABV) ranging from 6 percent to 14 percent, depending on the flavor and state regulations. Most 24 oz cans sold in the U.S. contain around 14 percent ABV. By comparison, most beers have an ABV between 4 percent and 8 percent.
The original caffeinated version of the drink was banned or restricted in several states, including Michigan, Washington, Utah, Oklahoma, New York, and Kansas, from 2010 to 2011.
When breathalyzed, Couch had a score of .212 – almost three times Georgia’s legal limit of 0.08.
The sheriff was stopped at around 10.30 a.m Friday after a deputy operating an unmarked vehicle observed a black Chevrolet Tahoe failing to maintain its lane. The deputy then followed the car back to a private driveway.
A trooper from GSP was called to the residence at approximately 11.30 a.m. They noted that Couch was unstable and administered Standardized Field Sobriety Tests – determining that he was under the influence of alcohol and placing him under arrest.
He was charged with driving under the influence, failure to maintain lane and open container.
Couch reportedly spent five hours in custody at Hall County Jail before being released on bond. His county-issued vehicle was confiscated.
The Independent has contacted the Hall County Sheriff’s Department for an update in the case.
Due to his position as an elected official in Hall County, Couch cannot be fired from his position, though it is unclear if or when he will return. The state governor has the power to investigate such instances, including suspending or even charging a sheriff with a felony.
The Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia confirmed Monday that it received a conflict of interest letter from the Hall County Solicitor-General and was working to find an appropriate prosecutor for the case.
