Hall County Sheriff Arrested for DUI and Impairment While Driving County Vehicle
Hall County Sheriff Gerald Jay Couch was arrested on Friday for driving under the influence, failure to maintain lane, and having an open container. Around 10:30 a.m., a sheriff's deputy observed Couch driving a Chevrolet Tahoe on Green Hill Road while failing to maintain his lane. The deputy followed the vehicle until it entered a private driveway. Upon contact with Couch, the deputy detected a strong odor of alcohol and observed signs of impairment. The Georgia State Patrol was called to assist in the arrest around 11:30 a.m. After administering a field sobriety test, the trooper believed Couch was under the influence and placed him under arrest. He was booked into his own jail and later released on a $1,560 bond around 6 p.m. Sheriff Couch exhibited slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet during the interaction with law enforcement. Hall County spokesperson Derreck Booth mentioned that the agency is still processing the incident and no further information is available at this time.
