Amber Hayes

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Name:
Hayes, Amber Lynn

Date of Booking:
08/14/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Aggravated Assault (Family Violence)

Battery- Family Violence (1st offense) MISD

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On August 13, 2026, at approximately 2335 hours, I, Officer Williams, was dispatched to a Domestic Disturbance call at [30 BLOCK] East Wright St. in Winder, GA. I responded Code 3 (emergency lights and sirens) in my marked patrol vehicle #401 due to the severity of the call. Dispatched advised there was a weapon involved in the incident and the altercation was physical.

Upon arrival, I observed both parties, later identified as [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and Amber Hayes, outside of the residence. I instructed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to walk across the street so that he would be separated from Amber. I observed blood on [REDACTED BY AGENCY] left wrist. Ofc. Melniciuc stood by with [REDACTED] as I went to speak with Amber.

Upon initial conversation with Amber, she immediately advised me that she had been drinking and smoking weed. I observed Amber’s slurred speech as she explained the incident, matching her statement. Amber stated she messaged someone months ago but did not specify who this person was. Tonight, Amber stated she asked [REDACTED BY AGENCY] why she could not be friends with this person and stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] got upset. Amber stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] grabbed her with one hand around her throat. Amber stated again that she was the only one smoking weed and drinking tonight. Amber showed me her right tricep, which I observed was bruised. Amber stated that the altercation occurred only in the bedroom.

I then spoke to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that he and Amber were lying in bed when the altercation started. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that about 2 weeks ago Amber admitted that she was talking to a person named [REDACTED]. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that [REDACTED] lives down the street from them. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that tonight Amber asked him why she could not be friends with [REDACTED], and he responded that he did not want [REDACTED] around his family. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that when he told Amber she could no longer speak to [REDACTED], she “blew up” and started swinging at him. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] then stated that Amber grabbed her gun (Charter Arms .38 Special Revolver) and pointed it at him. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that Amber said she was calling 911 and ‘backed” the hammer on him. I observed a mark on [REDACTED BY AGENCY] chest where [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated Amber was banging on his chest. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] did admit to pushing Amber back on the bed to defend himself from beating on him.

I went back to Amber to get more clarification on the incident. I asked Amber to clarify what action took place once the messages were found. Amber stated that she did start asking [REDACTED BY AGENCY] why she could not be friends with [REDACTED] while lying down. Amber stated that she then got up and threatened to leave. Amber stated that she then left the room to grab the phone in the living room, and after grabbing the phone, she went back into the bedroom to grab the gun. Amber stated the gun was on her part of the nightstand. Amber stated she had the gun pointed at [REDACTED BY AGENCY] before she called dispatch.

I went back to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to get more clarification on the incident. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that Amber hit him in the chest with her right hand. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that he did push her, but in her chest area, and she fell onto the bed and slid onto the floor. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] then stated Amber grabbed the gun, pointed it at him, and said she would shoot him if he did not leave. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that he told Amber to put the gun down: “You don’t need to do this.”

A witness statement was completed by Amber. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] could not complete a witness statement due to a surgery that prohibited him from writing.

I asked Amber why she did not leave the house once she left the room to get her phone. Amber stated she went back into the room to get the gun because she felt like she could not leave the house without it.

Cpl. Perrin and I were granted consent from Amber to go inside the home and secure the gun. The gun was located on the bed inside the bedroom. The hammer of the gun was in the firing position, matching [REDACTED BY AGENCY] statement previously. The gun was also loaded. I asked dispatch to run the serial number for the gun through GCIC, to which nothing was found. I secured the gun in an evidence bag in my patrol vehicle.

Based on the field video statements and witness statement that I received on scene, I asked Amber to stand up and placed handcuffs on her wrists behind her back and double-locked them, checking for proper fit.

I then escorted Amber to the passenger side of my patrol vehicle #401 and searched her for weapons, contraband, and any means of escape and found nothing. I then placed Amber in the back seat of my patrol vehicle and secured her seatbelt before my transport to the Barrow County Jail for safety.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] was notified of the Barrow County Area Services that are provided. I provided with my business card and case number (2026-00042104) to follow up with this incident.

Upon my arrival at the jail, custody of Amber was transferred to the intake deputies without incident. A victim notification form was completed and submitted to the Barrow County Jail.

I procured a warrant for Aggravated Assault Family Violence (Warrant #2026-2551FW) and Battery Family Violence (Warrant 2026-2550MW).

A Winder Police Department evidence property receipt A-29860 was completed and submitted to evidence locker #005. A LERMS entry was completed. Cpl. Perrin notified Captain Banks #127 and Lieutenant Page #156 of the incident.

[End of Narrative]

All information is sourced directly from the official, public court database. Case history is organized and curated by The Georgia Gazette staff. The “What this means:” explanations are written by AI and reviewed by our staff before publishing.

Court records are subject to change at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors or omissions. Nothing here is legal advice. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Case History:

8/19/26

DEFENSE ATTORNEY JAKE SHAPIRO FILES ENTRY OF APPEARANCE

What this means: Attorney Jake Shapiro formally notified the Barrow County Superior Court that he is representing Amber Hayes in case number 26-PI-000514. This filing, called an Entry of Appearance, is how a defense attorney officially puts the court and the prosecution on notice that they are the defendant’s lawyer of record. From this point forward, all court communications regarding Amber Hayes’s case are directed through Shapiro.

8/19/26

DEFENSE FILES EMERGENCY MOTION FOR BOND ON AGGRAVATED ASSAULT CHARGE

What this means: On the same day he entered his appearance, attorney Jake Shapiro filed an Emergency Motion for Bond asking the Barrow County Superior Court to set a bond for Amber Hayes on the aggravated assault charge — the charge for which she had been denied bond at her first appearance. The motion argued that Hayes had been in custody since August 14, 2026, posed no significant flight risk, no danger to the community, and no risk of intimidating witnesses. The motion also cited serious medical issues as grounds for the emergency request, asking the court to set a reasonable bond so Hayes could address her medical needs and prepare for trial.

8/25/26

JUDGE GRANTS BOND FOR AMBER HAYES — CONDITIONS SET

What this means: A judge of the Barrow County Superior Court, Piedmont Judicial Circuit, granted Amber Hayes a bond of $5,000 in case number 26-PI-000514. To be released, Hayes must post that amount with the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office. The bond comes with three conditions Hayes must follow while out of custody: she must live at a residence approved by the District Attorney’s office; she must have no contact with the alleged victim or the alleged victim’s residence; and she must not possess or have access to any weapons. Violating any of these conditions could result in her bond being revoked and her return to jail.