Crime & Safety

Dacula Man Arrested Twice in One Week

Police say Saturday's arrest is man's third this year.

A Dacula man is facing numerous charges after a March 19 incident in Buford.

An officer responding to a call of a stranded motorist at the intersection of South Hill Street and Buford Highway found Mark William Hughes, 49, of 3357 Fielders Point in Dacula, “covered from his face to his feet in vomit.”

Hughes’ vehicle, a 2000 Porsche, had damage along the right side of the vehicle. Part of the frame had been torn away, the tire well was damaged and mud and grass coated the side of the vehicle according to the police report. Hughes said he was not injured and reportedly asked the responding officer several times if he could park his car on the curb and return for it later.

Find out what's happening in Daculawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

After noticing an odor of alcoholic beverage on Hughes’ breath and person, the officer asked Hughes how much alcohol he had consumed. Hughes reportedly replied that he had consumed three beers. The officer noted Hughes’ speech was slurred and thick and that Hughes was swaying back and forth.

The officer attempted to administer field sobriety tests, but could not due to Hughes’ level of impairment. The officer was also unable to get an alco-sensor reading after Hughes failed to provide a sufficient breath sample.

Find out what's happening in Daculawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Based on the damage to Hughes’ vehicle and obvious signs of physical impairment, the officer placed Hughes under arrest for DUI. When the officer read the Georgia Implied Consent Notice to ask Hughes to submit to the state administered test of his breath, Hughes allegedly replied, “Not here.” When the officer asked if Hughes was agreeing or refusing to take the test, Hughes again replied, “Not here.”

The officer impounded Hughes’ vehicle. During the impound inventory, the officer located a small container with 13 pills believed to be phentermine, three pills identified as oxycodone and one pill identified as hydrocodone. In the driver’s side door, the officer found a pill bottle containing what appeared to be marijuana. The officer also found an empty Miller Lite beer can in the passenger side floorboard along with a cold, full Miller Lite beer can. In the trunk, the officer found a 1.75 liter bottle of tequila and 15 more cans of beer.

Hughes was transported to the Gwinnett County Detention Center and charged with DUI, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, two counts of possession of a schedule II narcotic and possession of a schedule IV narcotic.

Just seven days prior, Hughes had been arrested for DUI after making what police described as “harassing phone calls” to Lance Wrecker service. Hughes reportedly made several calls demanding a wrecker respond to I-85 and Boggs Road to help him with a flat tire. A Gwinnett County Police Department DUI Task Force officer responded to the scene and found Hughes standing next to a Porsche. According to the March 12 arrest report, the front driver’s side tire was flat and the rear driver’s side tire was missing and the metal rim showed signs of wear from being driven on the pavement.

When asked what he was doing on the side of the road, Hughes said he had a flat tire and was awaiting a tow truck. The officer noted an odor of alcoholic beverage and asked Hughes where he had been. Hughes allegedly replied he had been at work and was on his way home.

According to the police report, Hughes refused to do field sobriety tests and said he wanted to speak with his lawyer. The officer placed Hughes under arrest for suspicion of DUI and transported him to Northside Precinct for the state administered breath test. After providing breath samples showing a blood alcohol concentration of .152 grams and .141 grams, Hughes was transported to the Gwinnett County Detention Center and charged with DUI.

Police records also show Hughes was arrested for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana after a traffic stop in January of this year.

Hughes is currently being held in the detention center without bond.

Other recent Dacula area incidents investigated by the Gwinnett Police Department include:

March 13

  • Battery in the 1500 block of Moriah Trace.
  • Battery in the 4200 block of Mulberry Ridge Lane.

March 14

  • Theft in the 2200 block of Stanley Road.

March 15

  • Simple battery in the 1300 block of Harris Road.

March 18

  • Battery in the 1600 block of Water Lily Way.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.