Hall County Sheriff Arrested for DUI with Blood Alcohol Level Over Legal Limit
A spokesperson for Governor Brian Kemp confirmed this week that his office is aware of the situation involving Hall County Sheriff Gerald Jay Couch. The Georgia law allows the governor to form a committee to investigate a sheriff, which could lead to suspension or other actions. The incident began when sheriff's office personnel were sent to Couch's home to pick up his county vehicle due to concerns about his alcohol use. During the encounter, a trooper reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol on Couch's breath, who claimed he had been to the Georgia Credit Union before returning home. Couch, 63, has been sheriff since 2013 and has worked in law enforcement since 1981. Following a field evaluation and breath test, Couch was arrested for DUI, failure to maintain a lane, and open container after his blood alcohol level registered at 0.212, significantly above the legal limit of 0.08. The report indicated that Couch had been drinking Four Loko and acknowledged his drinking prior to being handcuffed. The incident report noted that Couch's chief deputy observed him swerving and that Couch had recently been hospitalized for a high blood alcohol level. Couch's attorney stated that he intends to cooperate with authorities and urged the community to allow the investigation to proceed without rushing to judgment. The sheriff's office has not provided further comments regarding the incident.
