Mayor ‘acted like a fool’ during drunken episodes while criminal case still unresolved
In November, Buchanan Mayor AJ Scott told the FOX I-Team he did not have a drinking problem.
BUCHANAN, Ga. – An outside investigation confirmed Buchanan Mayor A.J. Scott abused his authority by repeatedly demanding police give him rides because he was too drunk to drive.
Despite those findings, the four-member city council took no action regarding Scott’s status as mayor.
The retired Marine is also a former state trooper who still faces vehicular homicide charges because he crashed his patrol unit into a car full of teenagers nearly eight years ago, killing two.
article
The criminal case ended in a mistrial and can’t be retried until the Georgia Supreme Court gives the okay.
Rome Police Captain Mark Tison was hired by the city of Buchanan in November to investigate allegations involving the mayor.
I-Team: 31-page review into Buchanan Mayor filled with disturbing allegations
By Randy Travis Published March 28, 2023 BUCHANAN, Ga. – An outside investigation confirmed Buchanan Mayor A.J. Scott abused his authority by repeatedly demanding police give him rides because he was too drunk to drive. Despite those findings, the four-member city council took no action regarding Scott’s status as mayor. The retired Marine is also a former state trooper who still faces vehicular homicide charges because he crashed his patrol unit into a car full of teenagers nearly eight years ago, killing two. The criminal case ended in a mistrial and can?t be retried until the Georgia Supreme Court gives the okay. FULL STORY: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/mayor-acted-like-a-fool-during-drunken-episodes-while-criminal-case-still-unresolved
The 31-page report is filled with disturbing allegations, many of which Tison said were confirmed or likely to have happened.
Scott admitted repeatedly he called Buchanan police to give him a ride home when he had too much to drink, including an officer forced to drive outside the city to a Bremen restaurant.
According to the report, Scott himself admitted he had “8-9 Old Fashioneds” during his estimated six hours there, with two witnesses saying the mayor got on the bar and “unzipped his pants or pretended to” as the police officer tried to get him to leave.
Scott denied that but admitted “he did drink too much, and he was loud, obnoxious and acted like a fool.”
The report said the mayor showed up at a police sobriety training class already intoxicated and volunteered to be a test subject.
According to the report, last March Scott showed up intoxicated at City Hall to offer his services for a police field sobriety testing class, even though no one in the police department asked him to volunteer.
The instructor saw “cans and bottles of alcoholic beverages on the mayor’s desk.”
And when the investigator asked to review the mayor’s cellphone to see whether he tried to cover up any of his actions, Scott refused to let him look.
The report also confirmed the mayor was intoxicated when he called police complaining about people “running through the park” behind City Hall. He also had out his pocket knife.
But the investigation determined that the mayor’s two teenage daughters were with him and said they saw individuals near the park as well.
In a brief interview off camera, Scott told the FOX 5 I-Team he doesn’t have a drinking problem because he only drinks alcohol a few times a month. He agreed the findings were embarrassing.
Others have a stronger opinion.
“He’s not fit to be mayor,” said Leslie Woods. “And without these reports, we would have no idea.”
Kellie Lindsey and Leslie Woods complain the man involved in their daughters’ deaths has yet to face the consequences of what happened.
Leslie Woods and Kellie Lindsey do not live in Buchanan, but the two moms follow the mayor’s every wrong move. That’s what happens when you blame him for the death of your teenage daughter.
“Other than losing his job with the Georgia State Patrol when he killed the girls, he has had a great life to live,” complained Lindsey.
On a dark road in September 2015, trooper A.J. Scott T-boned a car with four teenagers as they tried to turn left in front of him in Carroll County.
The driver said he never saw Scott who was speeding through the 45-mile-per-hour zone, no sirens or blue lights activated because he wasn’t responding to a call.
Scott was not drinking.
The crash killed the two girls in the backseat, Kylie Lindsey and Bella Chinchilla. Neither wore their seatbelt.
“I think AJ is not thinking about anybody but himself,” said Woods. “He thinks he’s above the law.”
Scott’s first prosecution ended in a mistrial. Everyone involved is waiting to see whether the Georgia Supreme Court allows the eight-year-old case to finally be retried.
“I’m just afraid it’s going to take him killing someone else before he’s stopped,” predicted Lindsey.
Click to open this PDF in a new window.
In an ironic twist, two of the police administrators who provided information for the outside investigation have since been terminated.
Buchanan Police Chief Brent Christopher and Major Kris Whitfield were accused of violating city policies. Among other concerns, the report accused Whitfield of lying to the investigator.
The two claim the city’s action is retribution from the mayor for documenting his drinking through official reports, something Scott denies.
Both are now considering their own legal actions.
Mayor ‘acted like a fool’ during drunken episodes while criminal case still unresolved
article
In November, Buchanan Mayor AJ Scott told the FOX I-Team he did not have a drinking problem.
BUCHANAN, Ga. – An outside investigation confirmed Buchanan Mayor A.J. Scott abused his authority by repeatedly demanding police give him rides because he was too drunk to drive.
Despite those findings, the four-member city council took no action regarding Scott’s status as mayor.
The retired Marine is also a former state trooper who still faces vehicular homicide charges because he crashed his patrol unit into a car full of teenagers nearly eight years ago, killing two.
The criminal case ended in a mistrial and can’t be retried until the Georgia Supreme Court gives the okay.
Rome Police Captain Mark Tison was hired by the city of Buchanan in November to investigate allegations involving the mayor.
I-Team: 31-page review into Buchanan Mayor filled with disturbing allegations
By Randy Travis Published March 28, 2023 BUCHANAN, Ga. – An outside investigation confirmed Buchanan Mayor A.J. Scott abused his authority by repeatedly demanding police give him rides because he was too drunk to drive. Despite those findings, the four-member city council took no action regarding Scott’s status as mayor. The retired Marine is also a former state trooper who still faces vehicular homicide charges because he crashed his patrol unit into a car full of teenagers nearly eight years ago, killing two. The criminal case ended in a mistrial and can?t be retried until the Georgia Supreme Court gives the okay. FULL STORY: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/mayor-acted-like-a-fool-during-drunken-episodes-while-criminal-case-still-unresolved
The 31-page report is filled with disturbing allegations, many of which Tison said were confirmed or likely to have happened.
Scott admitted repeatedly he called Buchanan police to give him a ride home when he had too much to drink, including an officer forced to drive outside the city to a Bremen restaurant.
According to the report, Scott himself admitted he had “8-9 Old Fashioneds” during his estimated six hours there, with two witnesses saying the mayor got on the bar and “unzipped his pants or pretended to” as the police officer tried to get him to leave.
Scott denied that but admitted “he did drink too much, and he was loud, obnoxious and acted like a fool.”
The report said the mayor showed up at a police sobriety training class already intoxicated and volunteered to be a test subject.
According to the report, last March Scott showed up intoxicated at City Hall to offer his services for a police field sobriety testing class, even though no one in the police department asked him to volunteer.
The instructor saw “cans and bottles of alcoholic beverages on the mayor’s desk.”
And when the investigator asked to review the mayor’s cellphone to see whether he tried to cover up any of his actions, Scott refused to let him look.
The report also confirmed the mayor was intoxicated when he called police complaining about people “running through the park” behind City Hall. He also had out his pocket knife.
But the investigation determined that the mayor’s two teenage daughters were with him and said they saw individuals near the park as well.
In a brief interview off camera, Scott told the FOX 5 I-Team he doesn’t have a drinking problem because he only drinks alcohol a few times a month. He agreed the findings were embarrassing.
Others have a stronger opinion.
“He’s not fit to be mayor,” said Leslie Woods. “And without these reports, we would have no idea.”
Kellie Lindsey and Leslie Woods complain the man involved in their daughters’ deaths has yet to face the consequences of what happened.
Leslie Woods and Kellie Lindsey do not live in Buchanan, but the two moms follow the mayor’s every wrong move. That’s what happens when you blame him for the death of your teenage daughter.
“Other than losing his job with the Georgia State Patrol when he killed the girls, he has had a great life to live,” complained Lindsey.
On a dark road in September 2015, trooper A.J. Scott T-boned a car with four teenagers as they tried to turn left in front of him in Carroll County.
The driver said he never saw Scott who was speeding through the 45-mile-per-hour zone, no sirens or blue lights activated because he wasn’t responding to a call.
Scott was not drinking.
The crash killed the two girls in the backseat, Kylie Lindsey and Bella Chinchilla. Neither wore their seatbelt.
“I think AJ is not thinking about anybody but himself,” said Woods. “He thinks he’s above the law.”
Scott’s first prosecution ended in a mistrial. Everyone involved is waiting to see whether the Georgia Supreme Court allows the eight-year-old case to finally be retried.
“I’m just afraid it’s going to take him killing someone else before he’s stopped,” predicted Lindsey.
Click to open this PDF in a new window.
In an ironic twist, two of the police administrators who provided information for the outside investigation have since been terminated.
Buchanan Police Chief Brent Christopher and Major Kris Whitfield were accused of violating city policies. Among other concerns, the report accused Whitfield of lying to the investigator.
The two claim the city’s action is retribution from the mayor for documenting his drinking through official reports, something Scott denies.
Both are now considering their own legal actions.
Judge admits videos of allegedly drunk Naples mayor in DUI case, denies motion to suppress
Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.11
The mayor of Naples has hit a roadblock in her defense against a drunk-driving charge that got her arrested over a year ago.
Collier County Circuit Judge Rob Crown denied Heitmann’s request to suppress dashcam video footage captured by two Naples police vehicles from her arrest at a pretrial conference on Friday, Sept. 26.
Heitmann was arrested on August 28, 2024 charged with driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol level of 0.169, which is more than double the legal limit.
She had also allegedly chased a motorist to his house, tailgating and flashing her the lights of her Porsche at the other vehicle, according to her arrest report.
Heitmann’s defense attorney Derek Verderamo filed a motion on April 10 to suppress multiple pieces of evidence from her case, which include:
- Any statements Heitmann made to police officers during or after they stopped her
- Any observations that police officers made during or after they stopped her
- Any videos depicting Heitmann on or after August 28, 2024 — when the incident occurred
- Any other evidence obtained as a result of police officers stopping Heitmann
The listed evidence that Heitman requested be suppressed also included dash cam footage from a Naples police vehicle. In the video, Heitmann leans against the hood of her silver Porsche while speaking with the arresting officers, then later performing the field sobriety tests before officers placed her under arrest.
Heitmann claims that Naples police officers stopping and arresting her was “unlawful” because they did not witness Heitmann driving the car, nor did they have a warrant for her arrest and therefore, they did not have probable cause to stop or arrest her.
However, in the video footage, Heitmann stated multiple times that she was driving. Officers have already testified to the behaviors and appearance they observed from Heitmann when they arrested her.
Heitmann also failed the field sobriety tests she was asked to complete, according to the arrest report.
More in U.S.
Elementary School Assistant Principal Arrested After Allegedly Stealing Nearly $1,000 Worth of Items from a Local Walmart
People
983
Tucker Carlson Finds it ‘Outrageous’ That Kristi Noem Immediately ‘Trashed’ Alex Pretti
Mediaite
402
A Texas man detained by ICE was his disabled son’s sole caregiver. His son will be laid to rest without him
CNN
8.2K
The judge has therefore denied Heitmann’s motion to suppress evidence, and video footage from two police vehicles have been submitted into evidence in the DUI case.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples mayor’s DUI case to present footage of Heitmann at arrestView comments(11)
Up next
Shapiro suggests ‘strong case’ to be made in Minnesota for voluntary manslaughter, obstruction
Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.901
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said Thursday there is a “very strong case” to charge the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official who shot Alex Pretti multiple times on Saturday with voluntary manslaughter.
“I see a case that requires a state investigation and requires a state determination as to whether prosecution is warranted,” Shapiro said at an event hosted by The Christian Science Monitor.
“I would argue, based on the publicly available evidence, that you could make a very strong case for voluntary manslaughter against the federal official who pulled the trigger multiple times.”
Video of the incident shows Pretti recording immigration officials before attempting to assist a woman whom one agent had pushed to the ground. At that point, he was shoved down himself and surrounded by officers, with one appearing to disarm him before another fired multiple rounds at the 37-year-old.
CBP, which oversees Border Patrol, notified Congress on Tuesday that two agents fired shots during the incident, according to The Associated Press.
Shapiro, who previously served as the Keystone State’s attorney general, also said there is a “very strong case” the Border Patrol agents committed obstruction of justice when they did not secure the crime scene.
“I think you might be able to make out a case for conspiracy, if there was a clear directive that that crime scene should be compromised, that you should not participate in an investigation,” the Pennsylvania governor added. “So I think all three of those charges could be warranted.”
Shapiro noted, though, that he is “not privy” to all the evidence that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) and local prosecutors have regarding the shooting.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) took over the investigation into the incident over the objections of Drew Evans, the superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), which oversees use-of-force incidents by officers in the state.
In a lawsuit brought by the BCA, a federal judge in Minnesota blocked DHS on Saturday from “destroying or altering” evidence from its probe.
White House border czar Tom Homan, meanwhile, said at a Thursday press conference that the federal immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota has not been “perfect.”
“I do not want to hear that everything that has been done here has been perfect. Nothing is ever perfect. Anything can be improved on and what we’ve been working on is making this operation safer, more efficient, by the book,” said Homan, whom President Trump dispatched to the state to handle the operation earlier this week.
More in U.S.
Police Identify Orange Substance Sprayed at Rep. Ilhan Omar During Town Hall Attack: Reports
People
4.5K
Trump-Voting Comedian Torches White House Over ‘******* Disgusting’ Spin Of Alex Pretti Death
HuffPost
231
Border Patrol Employee Arrested in Minnesota After Being Found Passed Out in Car and ‘Covered in Vomit’
Mediaite
518
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.View comments(901)
High-Speed Mustang Escape Leads to Felony Charges and Long-Term Insurance Fallout
Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.577
Key takeawaysPowered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
- A high-speed Mustang escape led to felony charges and long-term insurance fallout for the driver, highlighting the serious consequences of reckless driving.
See more
A single high-speed decision has left a Mustang driver facing felony charges and what experts often describe as permanent damage to insurability, underscoring how quickly reckless driving can escalate into lifelong consequences.
The incident began when the driver of a white Mustang made an illegal overtake in a restricted zone. When law enforcement attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver instead accelerated. Authorities say the maneuver forced a nearby officer to dive out of the vehicle’s path to avoid being struck. Investigators later noted there was no attempt to brake or slow down during the encounter, turning a traffic violation into a dangerous pursuit.
Officers were able to track the Mustang to a residential garage shortly after the incident. When they arrived, the vehicle’s hood was still emitting significant heat, indicating it had been driven hard moments earlier. The driver, identified as Palmieri, was taken into custody at the scene. She claimed she did not realize the individual in the roadway was a sworn law enforcement officer.
That explanation quickly unraveled. Body camera footage reviewed by investigators showed clear and repeated commands to stop, which were ignored as the Mustang fled at speed. The recordings became a central piece of evidence, leading to Palmieri being booked on multiple charges, including felony evasion and reckless endangerment.
Beyond the immediate criminal case, the long-term implications may be even more severe. Felony evasion and reckless operation are among the most damaging marks a driver can carry, often resulting in license revocation and extreme insurance penalties. In many cases, insurers either dramatically increase premiums or decline coverage entirely, forcing drivers into high-risk pools with costs that can follow them for decades.
Law enforcement officials note that attempts to hide a vehicle after a serious violation are rarely effective. Heat signatures, digital records, and body camera footage now form a trail that is difficult to erase. A vehicle parked in a garage with a hot hood can quickly become physical proof when paired with electronic evidence.
The case highlights how performance cars amplify consequences when misused. While vehicles like the Mustang are engineered for speed, authorities stress that mechanical power offers no advantage against modern enforcement tools or the legal system. For drivers, the lesson is clear: one reckless overtake can end far more than a single drive.
All parties are innocent unless proven guilty.