Gwinnett policeman arrested for DUI

By LARRY HARTSTEIN


The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Gwinnett County police officer has been relieved of his duties and placed on administrative leave after being arrested on a DUI charge early Saturday.

Gwinnett County Police James Stoudenmire

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James Stoudenmire, 27, caused a minor accident on Pleasant Hill Road after leaving Wild Bill’s, police said. His Mustang rear-ended a Mazda stopped at a light.

The responding officer wrote that he noticed a strong odor of alcohol on Stoudenmire’s breath and that Stoudenmire “was unsteady” during the field sobriety test.

Stoudenmire, who was off duty, said he had four drinks at Wild Bill’s starting around 4 p.m. Friday, according to the police report. The accident happened at 1:15 a.m. Saturday.

Stoudenmire was charged with DUI and following too closely. As he was being released from jail on $1,557 bond, “Stoudenmire stumbled and fell against the wall across from the holding cell,” the police report states.

A four-year veteran, Stoudenmire was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the department’s Professional Standards Unit.

A passenger in the Mazda was treated at the scene for a leg injury.