Kareema Ponder

Name:
Ponder, Kareema

Date of Booking:
12/16/2024

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

Cruelty to Children-Intentionally allow child to witness Forcible Felony/Battery/Family Violence Battery

Possession of a Firearm or Knife During Commission or Attempt to Commit certain Felonies

Reckless Conduct

Aggravated Assault (Family Violence)

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 Sunday, December 15, 2024, at approximately 2313 hours, I, Ofc Perry #149, was dispatched to [200 BLOCK] Georgia Avenue Winder, Ca 30680, in reference to a Domestic Dispute. I traveled CODE 1 to the above location in my marked patrol vehicle #396.

Upon arrival, I met with Mr. [VICTIM #1], who was standing outside on the front lawn. I asked [VICTIM #1] if he was the one that called and he told me no, but the suspect inside the residence had just pointed a gun at him. I heard yelling coming from inside the residence, and the door opened; I drew my service weapon and had it by my side. When the door opened, I met Ms. Kareema Ponder, who was in a fit of rage. [VICTIM #1] then asked Kareema, “Where is the gun you just had in your hand.” Kareema responded, “It’s registered to me,” and began smacking her chest.

Kareema then stated, “Right here,” and began to reach down onto the couch to grab the firearm. I ordered Kareema to keep the firearm where it was on the couch, and she complied. Kareema was telling me that someone had just choked her. Mr. Jermaine Mills-Taylor then came from the back of the house, putting his hands in the air and attempting to walk outside. Jermaine then walked outside and began speaking with Ofc Pierce #153.

I stayed inside the residence and spoke with Kareema and her daughter, Ms. [REDACTED]. Kareema had a strong smell of alcohol and marijuana while speaking with her and she was unable to calm down during the investigation. Kareema stated that Jermaine had walked into the bedroom and choked her while she was lying in the bed.

Kareema told me they were attempting to have a family meeting about the children in the house not cleaning up after themselves. Kareema told Jermaine that she was upset that [VICTIM #1] sits around the house all day playing video games and does not help take care of the house. The conversation became heated between her and Jermaine and she walked away to the bedroom. Kareema then told me that Jermaine came into the room and attacked her by placing his hands around her neck and began to strangle her.

Kareema then told her [REDACTED BY AGENCY]-year-old son to call 911, and then she told me that she went to her car to get her firearm to protect herself and told Jermaine and his son [VICTIM #1] to get out of the house. Kareema told me, “Y’all lucky I didn’t shoot him.” Kareema said to me that Jermaine stated to her that he was going to kill her while he was choking her. Kareema then told me she told Jermaine, “You better kill me before I get my gun, ’cause if not, I’m gonna shoot you and your fu*kin son.”

Kareema then said she left the bedroom when she got up, walked out to her vehicle to gather her firearm, came back inside, and told them both to get out of her house. Kareema told me that nothing like this had ever happened between the two. She stated that they have argued before but never to this level. Kareema told me that Jermaine lives with her at this residence.

I left Kareema and walked around the back of the house to speak with Jermaine. Jermaine had a strong odor of marijuana coming from his person upon initial contact. Jermaine told me that they were arguing about the kids not helping clean up the house. When I asked Jermaine if he put his hands on Kareema, he said he “probably grabbed her by the neck.” I asked Jermaine if he probably did grab her by the neck or actually did, and Jermaine told me that he did grab Kareema by the neck and told her to leave him the fu*k alone. Jermaine told me that he charged her after she kept calling him a pu*sy because he just wanted to get the car keys to leave the residence.

Jermaine told me that he was trying to leave the residence, but Kareema was not giving him the keys to the vehicle. Jermaine told me the argument was because the kids would not clean the house. Jermaine told me that Kareema was blaming him for the kids not cleaning the house, and Jermaine was placing the blame on himself and Kareema. This is how the argument began. Jermaine was telling Kareema that it was their fault because they allowed it to happen, and Kareema became upset. Jermaine said that after placing his hands on Kareema, she got up and left the bedroom. [VICTIM #1] told me later that both parties were separated at this time, and the original argument was over and calming down.

Jermaine then said that he heard his son ask why do you have a knife? Jermaine then said that Kareema told him that she was going to cut him and kill him while waving the knife at him. Jermaine told me that Kareema pointed the gun at him and told him to put his hands in the air and she was going to shoot him. Jermaine told me that Kareema was waving the gun around the house aimlessly, threatening to shoot him and his son [VICTIM #1]. Jermaine told me that he has a firearm in the house but never pulled the firearm on anyone or threatened anyone with it. Jermaine told me he and Kareema have been dating for a few years.

I then told Jermaine to stand up and place his hands behind his back before I asked him if he had any drugs or weapons or weapons on him; Jermaine informed me that he had a little bit of weed in his pocket. I placed Jermaine in double-locked, properly fitted handcuffs and then searched his person for any drugs, weapons, or means of escape but found none. I escorted Jermaine to the back of my patrol vehicle and placed him in the back, securing a lap and shoulder belt across his person. I informed Jermaine that he was being placed under arrest for Aggravated Assault.

I had further questions for Jermaine, so I read him Miranda Warning, and he agreed. Jermaine said that when Kareema pointed the gun at him, she told him that she was going to kill him. Jermaine said that Kareema was waving the gun around during this altercation, and there were multiple juveniles present in the household. The juveniles were able to hear Jermaine choking Kareema, and they were also able to see Kareema pointing the firearm at Jermaine and [VICTIM #1], threatening to shoot and kill them.

I then went inside the residence and placed Kareema under arrest for Aggravated Assault for pointing the firearm at Jermaine and [VICTIM #1], threatening to shoot them. Kareema was placed in properly fitted double-locked handcuffs and was searched for any drugs, weapons, or means of escape, and none were found. Kareema was escorted to the back of Cpl Perrin #117 patrol vehicle and placed in the backseat, securing a lap and shoulder belt across her person.

[VICTIM #1] told me that after Jermaine was choking Kareema she got up and left the bedroom. Kareema then came back inside and grabbed a knife and began waving it around threatening [VICTIM #1] and Jermaine that she was going to cut them. Kareema then brandished a firearm and pointed it at [VICTIM #1] and Jermaine and told them that she was going to shoot and kill them if they did not leave the house. [VICTIM #1] told me that he was not scared of the knife being waved at him because he has seen this type of behavior before.

Kareema and Jermaine were then escorted to 652 Barrow Park Drive, Winder, Ga 30680 (Barrow County Detention Center). Upon arrival, custody of Kareema and Jermaine was relinquished to Barrow County Intake Deputies. I completed all intake and Victim Notification forms and returned all belongings to Barrow County Intake Deputies.

I then traveled to 25 East Midland Avenue, Winder, Ga 30680 (Winder Police Department). Upon arrival, I weighed the green leafy substance suspected to be marijuana, which weighed 3.67 grams in total. I completed a Winder Police Department Receipt for Property A-27697 for the evidence and placed it in Evidence Locker #009. I also completed a Lerms entry for the Evidence. Sgt. Wolfe #160 added the firearm that Kareema used during the altercation into evidence.

Warrant #2024-4286MW Aggravated Assault, Warrant #2024-4281MW Possession of Marijuana less than an ounce, and Warrant #2024-4287MW Cruelty to Children in the 3rd Degree will be procured for Jermaine. I took Cruelty to Children in the 3rd degree because JUVENILE [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was able to hear Jermaine choking Kareema in the bedroom. Warrant #2024-4282MW Aggravated Assault, Warrant #2024-4280MW Aggravated Assault, Warrant #2024-428MW Possession of firearm or knife during the commission or attempt to commit certain felonies, Warrant #2024-4284MW Reckless Conduct, and Warrant #2024-4285MW Cruelty to Children in the 3rd Degree will be procured for Kareema. Cruelty to Children in the 3rd Degree was taken because JUVENILE [REDACTED BY AGENCY] witnessed Kareema point a firearm at [VICTIM #1] and Jermaine threatening to shoot and kill them. I then went back into service with no further issues.

[End of Narrative]