Nicholas Derline

Name:
Derline, Nicholas Brandon

Date of Booking:
09/14/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
Criminal Trespass (Damage of $500 or less)

Simple Assault-Family Violence

Battery- Family Violence (1st offense) MISD

Terroristic Threats and Acts (Felony)

False Imprisonment

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.]

[NARRATIVE #1 on September 14, 2025]

On 09/14/2025 at approximately 0857 hours, I was dispatched to [1700 BLOCK] Wyntercreek Lane in reference to a physical domestic dispute. Dispatch advised that the female victim was barricaded in a bathroom and had been choked unconscious by the suspect multiple times. I responded to the area code three.

Upon arrival, I met with Sergeant Meeler at the front of the residence. I asked dispatch over the radio to ask the caller if she could safely come to the door. Dispatch advised that the caller was unable to go to the door. I checked the door handle and learned that the front door was locked.

Sergeant Shultz advised that he could hear someone talking while he was standing behind the residence. Moments later, dispatch advised that the female was no longer near the phone, but they still had an open line through the caller. Dispatch advised that they could hear the female “screaming and crying”.

I asked dispatch to explain what the female was screaming and if she was screaming for help. Dispatch advised that they could hear what sounded like a female “coughing and gagging”. After hearing this radio traffic from dispatch, I immediately grew concerned for the life of the female caller. At this time, I had a reasonable belief that the suspect was actively choking the female caller, based on the initial call notes and the information given by dispatch.

Due to the totality of the circumstances presented to me at the time, and the exigency presented by the potential loss of life if no immediate action was taken, I made the decision to force entry into the residence. I kicked the front door multiple times in an attempt to force entry into the residence. Due to the narrow space between the door and the steps, I was unable to get enough momentum to kick the door open.

As I was returning to my vehicle to retrieve breaching tools, I heard someone talking loudly near the front door. A white male, later identified as Nicholas Derline, opened the front door and stood in the doorway. I aimed my issue patrol rifle at Nicholas while Meeler gave him commands to turn around and put his hands behind his back. Nicolas began asking Meeler questions and refused to follow his lawful order to turn around and put his hands behind his back.

Due to the totality of the circumstances, I grabbed Nicholas by the arm and pulled him out of the house. I turned Nicholas around and held his arms behind his back so Meeler could detain him in handcuffs. After Nicholas was detained in handcuffs, I escorted him and secured him in the backseat of my patrol vehicle.

I returned to the residence and spoke to the female, later identified as [VICTIM #1]. [VICTIM #1] stated that last night she allowed Nicholas to go through her phone per his request, she stated that he came across some old messages that made him jealous. [VICTIM #1] stated that on this date, Nicholas began arguing about the messages that he found as she was walking into the bathroom. She stated that she doesn’t remember how she ended up on her back with Nicholas on top of her, choking her by applying pressure to her neck with both of his hands.

[VICTIM #1] stated that he did this approximately 5 times, and each time she went unconscious. I asked [VICTIM #1] if she felt like Nicholas cut her air flow and blood circulation by doing this, and she stated yes. [VICTIM #1] stated that Nicholas grabbed her by the arms and slapped her on the face. [VICTIM #1] stated that Nicholas withheld her cellphone from her, taking away her ability to communicate or contact law enforcement. [VICTIM #1] stated that she got away from Nicholas and grabbed his work cellphone before hiding in the bathroom.

[VICTIM #1] stated that she hid in the bathroom, locked the door, and called 911. [VICTIM #1] stated that Nicholas was standing outside the bathroom. He told her that if she told anybody, he would kill her. She stated Nicholas told her not to get him in trouble and promised that he would be better.

I observed that [VICTIM #1]’s first lip was swollen. She pulled her lip upwards, exposing the inside of her lip. I observed a small laceration, blood, and swelling on her lip. I observed bruises on her left forearm with what appeared to be finger imprints from where Nicholas grabbed her. Pictures of [VICTIM #1]’s injuries were captured and will be attached to this report.

I observed redness around [VICTIM #1]’s neck, consistent with her story that Nicholas applied pressure to her neck. I observed a cut to [VICTIM #1]’s right cheek and swelling to the right side of her face. I smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from [VICTIM #1]’s breath. I asked if they had been drinking, and she stated that they had been drinking until approximately 2 am. I asked [VICTIM #1] if she would provide me with a written statement, and she agreed.

I then spoke to Nicholas while he was in the backseat of my patrol vehicle. I read Nicholas his Miranda rights, I asked him if he understood, and if, with his rights in mind, he would like to speak to me without an attorney present. Nicholas stated yes. Nicholas stated that they went to different bars the night before and had drinks. He stated that when they came home, he went through [VICTIM #1]’s cell phone and found out that she had been cheating on him. Nicholas stated that he broke up with [VICTIM #1], and she was upset. He stated that they lay in bed together and had sex, indicating to him that everything was okay.

When I asked if anything got physical between him and [VICTIM #1], Nicholas said multiple times that while in bed, they were “tussling”. When I asked him to explain what he meant by Tussling, he stated that they were pushing each other shoulder to shoulder, saying, “Get away from me.”

Nicholas stated that nothing got physical and made it clear that he would never put his hands on a woman. I observed redness on Nicholas’ chest area, which was captured on my BWC. I told Nicholas that he was under arrest for aggravated assault and family violence and fastened his seatbelt.

I walked back into the residence and spoke to [VICTIM #1], who at the time was being treated by EMS personnel. I got the written statement from [VICTIM #1] and provided her with a family violence pamphlet, which I explained.

[VICTIM #1] was transported to NE GA Braselton by MED5 for further treatment due to the seriousness of the incident and possible internal injuries.

I transported Nicholas to the Barrow County Detention Center, where he was turned over to detention staff. The backseat of my patrol vehicle was searched prior to shift, before and after transport, with no contraband being located. Warrants will be obtained against Nicholas for the following violations.

1. Aggravated assault family violence. When Nicholas assaulted his girlfriend, [VICTIM #1], with any object, device, or instrument which, when used offensively against a person, is likely to or actually does result in strangulation, Nicholas did this by placing both of his hands around [VICTIM #1]’s neck, impeding the normal breathing or circulation of blood by applying pressure until [VICTIM #1] became unconscious.
2. Battery Family violence. When [NICHOLAS] grabbed [VICTIM #1] by the arms and slapped her on the face. I observed that [VICTIM #1]’s upper lip was swollen. She pulled her lip upwards, exposing the inside of her lip. I observed a small laceration, blood, and swelling on her lip. I observed bruises on her left forearm with what appeared to be finger imprints from where Nicholas grabbed her. I observed redness around [VICTIM #1]’s neck, consistent with her story that Nicholas applied pressure to her neck. I observed a cut to [VICTIM #1]’s right cheek and swelling to the right side of her face
3. Simple assault family violence. When Nicholas placed [VICTIM #1] under reasonable apprehension of immediately receiving a violent injury by choking her until she became unconscious, punching her, and grabbing her by force, these acts of violence prompted [VICTIM #1] to barricade herself behind a locked door and dial 911 for help. Dispatch asked [VICTIM #1] on a recorded 911 line if she was able to come to the front door to let law enforcement in, and [VICTIM #1] stated that she was unable to do so due to being placed in reasonable fear by Nicholas of receiving great bodily harm or death if she left the room.
4. Criminal trespass, interference with property family violence. When [NICHOLAS] took [VICTIM #1]’s cellphone and withheld it from her, taking away her ability to communicate or contact law enforcement. [VICTIM #1] stated that she got away from [NICHOLAS] and grabbed his work cellphone before hiding in the bathroom.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on September 14, 2025]

On September 14, 2025, at 0906 hours, I responded Code 3 (emergency) to [1700 BLOCK] Wyntercreek Ln for a domestic dispute. Deputy Arango is the primary Deputy to respond. After he departed with the suspect, I escorted the victim, Ms. [VICTIM #1] to the ambulance. I asked her if he prevented her from leaving and she responded that he did twice. Once from leaving the bedroom and a second time when she opened the front door to yell for help. She stated that he pulled her back into the residence and said “Don’t play with me or I’ll kill you.”

[End of Narrative]