Johnny Gooch

Name:
Gooch, Johnny Ray

Date of Booking:
05/19/2022

Reason(s) For Booking:
Aggravated Assault

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the officer’s narrative report. We do not fix any spelling or grammatical errors. Any changes made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist.]

On May 18, 2022, at approximately 20:02 hours I, Officer Flores, was dispatched to the In & Out Food Market located at 168 W. May St. Winder, GA in reference to a stab wound. Dispatch advised the suspect had left on foot towards the Marathon located at 186 W. May Street. I responded CODE 3 (emergency lights and siren) to the Marathon in an attempt to locate the suspect.

The description of the suspect was a white male, with a long beard, wearing a cowboy hat, button-up shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes. We suspected the male subject could be a Johnny Ray Gooch. Johnny is a known local homeless man who roams around that area and is known to be wearing a sombrero.

Upon arrival at the location, I made contact with the clerk from the Marathon. I asked if he had seen anyone with a cowboy hat running, and he advised he saw a white male wearing a hat running westbound. As I began driving away, another male advised the suspect ran to the back of the business. Sergeant Yarbrough located a white male sitting in the driver seat of a vehicle in the rear of the building.

Sergeant Yarbrough removed his Glock 17 from his holster and gave loud verbal commands to the male. The male was instructed to get out of the vehicle, lay on the ground, and place his hands behind his back. I advised Sergeant Yarbrough I would go less lethal. I removed my department-issued Teaser X2 from the holster and pointed it at the male. The male complied with Sergeant Yarbrough’s commands.

Sergeant Yarbrough holstered his Glock 17 and placed handcuffs on the male. The handcuffs were checked for proper fit and double locked. The male subject was identified as Johnny Ray Gooch. I searched Johnny for weapons, contraband, and means of escape. Nothing was found. I placed Johnny in the back seat of my marked patrol vehicle and secured him in a seat belt.

The vehicle Johnny was sitting in was a gray 2004 Acura TL displaying a GA tag of [REDACTED]. An inquiry on GCIC/NCIC of the vehicle’s license plate was conducted. There was no contact information on the registered owner other than his name. I observed a pocket knife resting on a yellow towel that was near the vehicle’s gear shifter in plain sight. The knife had a black and blue handle. The blade was about 4-6 inches long.

While retrieving the knife I observed 2 glass pipes in plain sight. The clear glass pipes were located in an open compartment underneath the stereo area (the cover attached to the compartment was open). The glass pipes had a straight long end and a covered bowl end that had a hole. Both of the bowls’ ends appeared to have black smoke inside. This is a common drug-related object used for consuming drugs.

I photographed the two glass pipes and the knife and placed them into separate evidence bags. On-call Detective Manthe was notified of the incident. Detective Manthe requested Johnny to be transported to the Winder Police Department to be interviewed.

During this time, Officer Good was at the In & Out Food Market with the victim, [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] provided a written statement and wished to press charges against Johnny. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was advised to meet with Detective Manthe at the Winder Police Department to be interviewed as well.

I transported Johnny to the police department and placed him in interview room 1. Detective Manthe arrived. The handcuffs were removed from Johnny due to him requesting to use the restroom. He was escorted to the restroom and then back to interview room 1 afterward. Detective Manthe began his interview.

I walked outside and made contact with [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. I asked [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to explain to me what had occurred. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated he walked out from the In & out and saw Johnny sitting beside the business. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated Johnny stood up and approached him.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated Johnny began to talk to him, but he was not understanding what Johnny was saying. Johnny’s voice sounds very mumbled and can be difficult to understand. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] further explained Johnny began arguing with him and presented a knife. I asked [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to describe to me how Johnny was holding the knife.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated Johnny was gripping the knife with his right hand, and the blade was pointing upwards. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated he told Johnny he did not have any problems with him and took a step back. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated Johnny then “swung” the knife towards him and contact was made with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] left forearm area.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated Johnny then walked away towards the Marathon. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated another person chased after Johnny as he remained at the In & Out. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had a small cut midway on his left arm and what appeared to be a scratch as well.

NOTE: [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was given medical attention on scene and released on scene.

Shortly after, Detective Manthe advised me he would be obtaining warrants against Johnny, and Johnny could be transported to Barrow County Detention Center. I placed Johnny in handcuffs behind his back. I checked the handcuffs for proper fit and double locked them.

I secured Johnny in the back seat of my marked patrol vehicle with a seatbelt and transported him to the detention center. Johnny was turned over to the staff at the detention center. I checked the back seat of my patrol vehicle before and after transportation. Nothing was found.

A victim notification was completed and turned in at the detention center.

The pocket knife and two glass pipes were turned over to Detective Manthe upon arrival to the police department for evidence.

Photographs have been attached to this report along with two written statements.

I was wearing body camera 138

The dashboard camera from patrol vehicle 401 was recording during transportation.