Written by: E. George
Published December 20, 2023 @ 9:30 PM ET
BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. – On Wednesday, December 6, 2023, just after 8:00 PM, a Georgia State Patrol officer patrolling GA 20 at Rowland Springs Road observed a driver “holding a cell phone in their right hand and looking down at it.” After performing a traffic stop, the officer arrested 51-year-old Greggory Dewitt Hedden, an assistant principal at Cass Middle School in Bartow County, for driving under the influence.
Hedden told the officer he “just got done reffing (refereeing) [children’s] basketball at Lake Point” sports complex. The officer noted Hedden’s “bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath, and a pint of open Fireball Whiskey in the cup holder.” The officer also noted Hedden was crying and talkative during the stop.
As Hedden handed over his driver’s license, he “attempted to cover up the Fireball Whiskey with his wallet.” When the officer asked him how much he had to drink and the time of his last drink, he responded, “Just that, around 4:30 PM.”
The officer asked him for a breath sample and instructed him to step
