TALLULAH FALLS, Ga. – A Tallulah Falls city councilmember was arrested earlier this month after authorities say he struck a parked vehicle, left the scene and returned about 45 minutes later.
Gerald Michael “Mike” Urpschot, 66, was arrested Aug. 10 by the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office and charged with striking an unattended vehicle and having an expired tag, according to an incident report and booking records obtained by Now Georgia.
Urpschot is a current member of the Tallulah Falls Town Council. The town’s official website identifies him as its Public Safety Councilperson, serving as the council liaison for the Tallulah Falls Police and Fire departments.
The incident unfolded at 135 Main Street in Tallulah Falls after deputies were called about a vehicle that had been struck while its owner was inside a nearby general store.
According to the sheriff’s office report, Katherine Grace Bouck, 22, of Tallahassee, Florida, told authorities she was inside the store when someone struck her parked vehicle.
Investigators soon spoke with Urpschot.
According to the incident narrative, Urpschot acknowledged backing out of his driveway and into the roadway, where he collided with Bouck’s vehicle. He also acknowledged leaving afterward, the report says.
Urpschot reportedly told the deputy that after the collision he spoke with a neighbor and told her he had hit a car. The neighbor told him the vehicle was not hers, according to the report.
Urpschot then told the deputy he went to the store to purchase cigarettes before returning approximately 45 minutes later.
During the encounter, the deputy reported detecting the odor of alcohol on Urpschot’s breath and asked him how much he had consumed.
Urpschot said he had consumed two beers, but told the deputy he began drinking only after he returned home following the collision, according to the report.
The sheriff’s office records provided to Now Georgia do not show that Urpschot was charged with driving under the influence.
The deputy also checked Urpschot’s 2014 Ford F-150 through the Georgia Crime Information Center and found the vehicle’s registration had expired May 31, according to the incident report.
Urpschot reportedly acknowledged knowing the registration was expired and said he had not updated the tag.
The deputy then asked Urpschot why he had not notified law enforcement about the collision.
“Well, I told my neighbor,” Urpschot replied, according to the report.
Urpschot was arrested for striking an unattended vehicle and cited for the expired registration.
He was taken to the Rabun County Detention Center, where booking records show he was processed around 6 p.m. the same day.
Records indicate the bonds were posted that day.
Urpschot is scheduled to appear in Probate Court on Nov. 4 at 9 a.m. on both charges, according to the booking report.
The arrest comes while Urpschot holds a council position directly connected to public safety in Tallulah Falls. The town says the four-member council provides policy direction for municipal government, and Urpschot’s designated responsibilities include serving as the elected council liaison to the town’s police and fire departments.
The charges remain pending. An arrest and criminal charge are allegations and do not constitute a finding of guilt.
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