Paul McDaniel

Name:
McDaniel, Paul Stephen

Date of Booking:
10/31/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
Obstructing or Hindering Persons making Emergency Phone Calls

Aggravated Assault

Obstructing or Hindering Persons making Emergency Phone Calls

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.]

[NARRATIVE #1 on October 31, 2025]

On 10/31/2025, I was dispatched to a Domestic Dispute at [900 BLOCK] Coosawilla Dr. Call notes stated a female called in, stating a male had stolen her phone, put hands on her, and was accusing her of stealing rings. She stated that she was able to call 911 because she took his phone and hid in the bathroom. She further stated that he was standing outside the bathroom door and was making attempts to break down the bathroom door. I responded to the location Code 3 (emergency lights and sirens).

Upon arrival, I met with Dep. Thurman, who was already knocking on the door. Myself and Dep. Thurman knocked several times on the front door, rang the doorbell, and knocked several times on the back door with no answer. Dispatch advised via radio that they still had contact with the caller and that she was still barricaded inside the bathroom.

While checking for other entry points, I observed the ground floor bathroom the female was hiding in through a window with the blinds open. I shined my flashlight inside and made visible contact with the female inside. I asked through the window if she was able to get out of the bathroom and to a back door just a few feet away, where myself and Dep. Thurman would meet her. The female nodded yes. I then left the window to go to the door.

As I was just a few steps away from the bathroom window, I heard female screams of “ow!” and “let me go!”. I went back to check the bathroom window and observed a male and female standing in the bathroom. Fearing for the female’s life, I informed Dep. Thurman that we needed to force entry to the house. Dispatch was notified of deputies’ intent to force entry and a 10-3 (hold non-emergency traffic) was called. Entry into the house was forced by kicking the door, and myself and Dep. Thurman made an exigent entry into the house while announcing ourselves as Law Enforcement.

Immediately entering into the residence, I located the female and male standing in a bedroom to the left of the door, just off of the kitchen area. Due to not knowing if the male was armed, I drew my department-issued Glock 21 service weapon and aimed it towards the male while giving verbal commands to put his hands up and walk towards me, thereby separating the suspect and the victim. The male complied after repeated commands, and he was then placed in handcuffs that were double locked and checked for fit. The male was then frisked for weapons, of which none were located.

The male was then identified as Paul McDaniel and he was escorted out of the residence and stood in front of my patrol car. McDaniel was then read his Miranda Rights from my issued Miranda Warning card. McDaniel stated that he understood his rights, and that he did not wish to speak to me without a lawyer present. McDaniel was then placed in the rear of my patrol car to be secured, while Dep. Matherly stood by to maintain McDaniel’s wellbeing and security.

While inside the residence, the female was identified as [VICTIM #1]. [VICTIM #1] stated that she and McDaniel were formerly married but still sometimes saw each other. I observed [VICTIM #1] to have a bruised and swollen lip and have several red and bruising areas on her arms. EMS was summoned to evaluate [VICTIM #1].

After [VICTIM #1]’s evaluation and allowing some time for her to settle, [VICTIM #1] stated the argument had started several hours prior in the night and into the morning. [VICTIM #1] stated McDaniel was upset that [VICTIM #1] no longer had possession of a ring that he had bought for her. [VICTIM #1] also stated McDaniel was upset due to believing she was talking to another male. [VICTIM #1] stated that at one point during the night, McDaniel had taken her cell phone just prior to the physical assault starting. [VICTIM #1] stated that she was thrown off the bed and onto the ground, and McDaniel had then mounted her and had his forearm across her neck and throat and was pressing down in a manner that would cause strangulation. [VICTIM #1] stated during this altercation, she was able to slip McDaniel’s phone out of his pocket and held onto it so that she would be able to call for help.

[VICTIM #1] stated that McDaniel had struck her a few more times on the arms and face, and then had gotten up. At some point later in the morning, [VICTIM #1] was able to leave the bedroom, barricade herself in the bathroom, and was able to dial 911 for help. When McDaniel heard that she was on the phone, he began attempting to make entry into the bathroom.

While deputies were on scene and attempting to get into the house, [VICTIM #1] stated that she could hear us knocking and banging on the door. [VICTIM #1] stated that after she had seen me in the window, she was attempting to make a run for the back door to get to safety. When she had opened the bathroom door, McDaniel had grabbed the phone out of her hands that she was using to dial 911, and pulled her by the hair back into the bedroom as deputies were forcing entry into the house. [VICTIM #1] completed and signed a written witness statement that was placed into records.

Due to the visible marks and bruising on [VICTIM #1]’s face and arms, the assault that was heard by dispatch and law enforcement, the testimony that [VICTIM #1] was held into the bathroom by fear and threat of violence, and the testimony of McDaniel obstructing [VICTIM #1]’s attempts at a 911 call, McDaniel was transported to the Barrow County Detention Center. Warrants for Aggravated Assault-Strangulation, Family Violence Battery, and two counts of Obstructing an Emergency Call were signed by Judge Durden. The warrant for False Imprisonment was rejected. The warrants were printed out and turned into the jail.

Lt. Hansen was notified of the use of force and forced entry. The home was owned and resided by [REDACTED] and [REDACTED], and the other rooms were rented out via AirBnB to [REDACTED] and [VICTIM #1], as well as three other uninvolved parties. The owner of the residence was at work during the incident and responded back to the scene. She was given a copy of the case number and informed on why law enforcement needed to force entry.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on October 31, 2025]

On Friday, October 31st, 2025, at approximately 4:51 AM, I was dispatched to [900 BLOCK] Coosawilla Drive in response to a domestic dispute. The caller reported that a male had taken her cellphone, physically assaulted her, and accused her of stealing rings. She identified the individual as Paul McDaniel.

The caller mentioned that she had taken his phone to call 911 and that he was standing outside the bathroom door. She also stated that he had grabbed the back of her head and pushed her down. The caller indicated that the male was actively trying to break down the bathroom door, where she was currently hiding. he reported that he was using some sort of tool in an attempt to get into the bathroom. She informed dispatch that the male driver was in a white GMC Terrain and that he was actively trying to break down the door again. Given the information provided, I responded Code 3 (emergency lights and sirens) to the location. As I approached the location, I changed my code response to Code 2 while proceeding on Boss Hardy Road to Coosawilla Drive.

Upon arrival, I approached the residence and located a white GMC Terrain in the driveway. I relayed the Georgia tag [REDACTED] to dispatch, which returned to Paul McDaniel—the name provided by the caller. I knocked on the front door multiple times, but received no response. I checked to see if the front door was unsecured, but the storm door was locked. I then proceeded to the back door, which was also secure.

Returning to the front door, I knocked again and announced, “Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, come to the door!” several times, yet there was still no response. Deputy Ciucci and I moved to the back door, and due to Deputy Ciucci’s height advantage, he was able to look inside the residence and spotted the caller in the bathroom. He asked her if she thought she could make it to the back door. I was standing on the back porch to the right of the back window when Deputy Ciucci made contact with the caller and was unable to hear her from where I was.

Deputy Ciucci kept his eyes on the caller as she unlocked and opened the door. Suddenly, I heard loud screaming coming from her direction. Deputy Ciucci turned to me and said, “Kick the door!” before informing dispatch of the situation and that we were making forced entry. I attempted to kick the door three times, but it wouldn’t budge. I then turned to Deputy Ciucci and urged him, “Kick the door!” He successfully kicked it in, and we announced, “Sheriff’s Office!” as we entered the residence with our issued firearms drawn.

We proceeded to the last known location of the caller and I kicked open the bedroom door at the end of the hallway. I observed a male, identified by the caller as Mr. Paul McDaniel, standing over her, later identified as [VICTIM #1]. With our firearms still drawn and aimed at Mr. McDaniel, he was given instructions, “Come here! Put your hands up!” several times. Mr. McDaniel followed the instructions and approached Deputy Ciucci and I, where he was secured in handcuffs. The handcuffs were checked for fit and double-locked.

After Mr. McDaniel was secured in handcuffs, I turned my attention to Mrs. [VICTIM #1], who was sitting on the edge of the bed and appeared to be in shock. I promptly asked her if she was okay, and she shook her head no. When asked if she had been hit, she nodded yes. I noticed that she had a swollen upper lip and her hands were shaking uncontrollably as I asked her these questions. Deputy Ciucci proceeded to escort Mr. McDaniel out of the residence, as I remained with Mrs. [VICTIM #1]. I asked for dispatch to start a Med Unit to check Mrs. [VICTIM #1] out due to her being in shock.

When Deputy Ciucci returned, we began to clear the residence due to incoming calls to dispatch indicating that there were additional individuals inside. All the bedroom doors upstairs, except for the master bedroom, were locked. I started knocking on them and announcing that we were the Sheriff’s Office, not Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.). The first bedroom door to the left, once you reach the second floor, opened, and I observed two young males, later identified as [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. I asked both of them who else was inside the residence. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that his uncle, Mr. [REDACTED], was in the bedroom to the right, across the hallway. I asked [REDACTED BY AGENCY] if he could get a hold of his parents, and he stated that he would call his father.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] was able to get his father, Mr. [REDACTED], on the phone and informed him of the situation. Mr. [REDACTED] told me that his wife, Mrs. [REDACTED], was on her way to the residence. I asked him whether either of them had access to the security cameras installed inside the house. Mr. [REDACTED] explained that the cameras were inoperable, but he kept them in place to deter theft when they had guests staying over.

I returned downstairs and informed Deputy Ciucci that the cameras were inoperable and proceeded back to the bedroom where Mrs. [VICTIM #1] was located. She was being assessed by medical personnel and declined to be transported to the hospital.

I asked Mrs. [VICTIM #1] if she could tell me what had occurred prior to our arrival, and she agreed. Mrs. [VICTIM #1] stated that she and Mr. McDaniel had been staying at this location for a few weeks to rekindle their relationship. She mentioned that Mr. McDaniel had been drinking heavily over the course of several hours, and he began yelling at her at approximately 0030 hours on October 31st.

During the argument, Mrs. [VICTIM #1] stated that Mr. McDaniel took her cellphone because she had taken the ring she had given him. She repeatedly insisted, “I don’t have the ring.” She pleaded with Mr. McDaniel multiple times to return her cellphone, but he refused. Mr. McDaniel placed her cellphone out of sight and then put his own cellphone in his back pocket. He began searching her jeans and jacket pockets.

Mrs. [VICTIM #1] recounted that he shoved her to the ground onto her back, between the wall and the bed frame. He then pressed his forearm against her neck, making it difficult for her to breathe. While Mr. McDaniel had his forearm on her neck, she managed to feel for and grab his cellphone from his back pocket. After taking the cellphone, she was able to escape from Mr. McDaniel and ran into the bathroom to contact dispatch.

When I asked Mrs. [VICTIM #1] if she had any bruises or scratches, she was unsure. We requested that she remove her jacket so Deputy Ciucci could take photographs of any bruises on her arms. Several bruises were found and subsequently photographed. She also agreed to provide a written statement detailing the sequence of events that occurred before our arrival.

Before I left, I gave Mrs. [VICTIM #1] a case number and reviewed the Family Violence Pamphlet with her.

[End of Narrative]