Crime & Safety

'Shaq' Cited for DUI, Later Accused Deputy of Theft

Man had been found unconscious in the driver's seat of a vehicle stopped on Dillard Way.

A 23-year-old Monroe man is facing multiple charges after an Aug. 24 trip to a Lawrenceville club.

A Barrow County Sheriff's deputy was dispatched to Dillard Way in Bethlehem in response to a report of a suspicious vehicle blocking the roadway. Upon arrival, the deputy found Shaquel Oneal Cooper unconscious in the driver's seat of the vehicle. The vehicle -- a 1998 green Dodge Intrepid -- had two flat tires.


"I applied multiple sternum rubs to Cooper's chest with no response," the deputy wrote in the arrest report. "I began to smell an odor of alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle when Cooper opened his mouth."

Cooper's passenger advised that he and Cooper had been drinking at a club in Lawrenceville and were on their way back to their Monroe residence. When asked how the tires were flattened, the passenger claimed Cooper hit a curb on Dillard Way.

After several more unsuccessful attempts to wake Cooper, medics were called to the scene. Cooper was subsequently transported to Barrow Regional Medical Center.

Upon arriving at the BRMC emergency room, Cooper allegedly became combative.

"I advised Cooper to be quiet and allow the nurses to work," the deputy noted.

Once Cooper was admitted to a private room, he calmed down and the deputy explained what had happened. The deputy informed Cooper he was being cited for DUI and failure to maintain lane.

"I told Cooper I located a large amount of cash at his feet in the driver's floor board in the amount of $420 and counted it out in front of him," the deputy wrote. "Cooper stated, 'That sounds about right.' "

Cooper agree to a state administered test of his blood. After a technician collected the sample, the deputy took the blood test kit and placed it into evidence. Due to Cooper's medical condition and his need to remain at the hospital, no field sobriety tests were conducted and Cooper was not taken into physical custody.

Several hours later, another deputy was dispatched to BRMC after Cooper complained his money had been stolen by the deputy who had informed him he was being charged with DUI.

"When I asked Cooper for his driver's license, he noticed his money was inside of his wallet," the second deputy wrote in the incident report. "After seeing his money inside of his wallet, Cooper apologized for the inconvenience."

No further action was taken.


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