Polk County’s Probate Court will have to do without their Chief Clerk for the time being after he was arrested on a DUI and traffic charge on Tuesday evening in Rome, according to a police report.
Charles Bradley Shelton, 52, of 204 Shelia Drive, Cedartown, was taken into custody and briefly held at the Floyd County Jail on Tuesday, April 27 before being released on his own recognizance on charges of Driving Under the Influence and failure to maintain lane after Rome Police reported to the scene of a wreck on the Armuchee Connector at 7:05 p.m. Both charges are misdemeanors.
The report stated that Shelton was standing next his Toyota Rav 4 that was hanging halfway into the embankment when the officer arrived, who additionally added in the report that “I could smell an odor of alcohol coming from his person.” He had told officers he fell asleep at the wheel which caused the accident.
Shelton additionally told officers that he hadn’t slept in several days following the passing of his father, and that he had taken two un-prescribed Klonopin doses, but had spaced them out from the previous night and earlier that morning.
However, Shelton due to health issues was reported to be unable to pass any of the DUI tests on the side of the roadway on Tuesday evening and was taken into custody. Blood was drawn at the hospital and placed into evidence as well.
Following the arrest, Shelton was sought for comment and referred Polk.Today to his attorney, Magistrate Court Judge B. Jean Crane.
She has yet to respond to an inquiry for comment about the matter.
Probate Court Judge Tony Brazier reported that he was aware of the wreck on Tuesday evening and stated that Shelton was suspended from his role as Chief Clerk until the matter is resolved in the Floyd County court system.
