STEPHENS COUNTY, Ga. – On Oct. 9, deputies with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office S.T.I.N.G. Unit responded to a possible motor vehicle crash. The incident resulted in an arrest for driving under the influence and possession of an illegal substance.

Around 6:40 p.m., deputies were dispatched to a call regarding unknown trouble, possibly a motor vehicle accident. A caller reported that their relative was possibly run off the road by another driver. A deputy responded and found the vehicle parked on the side of the road on Brookhaven Circle in Martin, Ga. The vehicle – a black in color Kia Optima – was occupied by Cynthia Thomas, 57 of Houston, Texas. When the deputy made contact with Thomas, she informed him that someone ran her off the road. During the conversation, the deputy observed mixed scents of alcohol and marijuana on Thomas, along with slurred speech and movement. Thomas admitted to having some alcohol prior to driving, so the deputy performed a field sobriety test. The deputy determined Thomas to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol then placed her under arrest. After patting her down for safety, the deputy placed Thomas in the back of his patrol vehicle and read her the Georgia Implied Consent Notice, to which she agreed.

The deputy then completed a search of the vehicle. During the search, he discovered an unlabeled bottle of pills. Having been read her Miranda rights, Thomas informed the deputy that the pills were Tylenol but that there was marijuana in a pink bag in the vehicle. The deputy found the bag, which contained less than one ounce of suspected marijuana and several drug-related objects. The deputy also found a tall bottle of vodka in the trunk that was nearly empty.

A witness arrived on scene and provided evidence that Thomas ran off the road almost a mile in the opposite direction. During the accident, she hit a culvert and the vehicle’s inner fender became detached.

After Thomas’ vehicle was towed away from the scene, she was transported to the Stephens County Hospital to complete a DUI kit. After this was complete, Thomas was transported to the Stephens County Jail without incident.

Thomas has been charged with Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol and Possession of Marijuana (less than one ounce). She received citations for Failure to Maintain Lane and Expired Registration. She was released on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, on bond.