Romel Sims

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Name:
Sims, Romel David

Date of Booking:
03/31/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Willful Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers-Misdemeanor

Giving False Name, Address, or Birthdate to Law Enforcement Officer

Disorderly Conduct

Criminal Trespass – Unlawful Entry

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 March 30, 2026]

On March 30, 2026, at 1626 hours, I was dispatched to Pearl’s Tires, 123 E. May St., Winder, GA, 30680 in reference to a suspicious activity call. The caller advised 911 dispatch that a customer had pulled a knife on her father, the business owner. The caller was not on scene but was calling on behalf of her father, Mr. [VICTIM #1]. The caller advised that her father was ok and the suspect had left the scene. I was near the area and responded Code 1 to the scene in my marked patrol vehicle (non-emergency). Upon my arrival, I made contact with the owner, [VICTIM #1].

Mr. [VICTIM #1] advised that the suspect was not a customer and had pulled a knife on him. Mr. [VICTIM #1] directed me to a Craftsman pocketknife resting on a tool cart. Mr. [VICTIM #1] stated that the suspect grabbed the pocket knife and pried it open, so the blade was visibly out. Mr. [VICTIM #1] says he turned to face him while holding the knife, but the suspect did not say anything. Mr. [VICTIM #1] stated he asked the suspect if he was ok before flashing his gun holster. I reviewed the camera footage of the incident and identified the suspect as Mr. Romel David Sims of Winder, GA. Mr. Sims has been barred from several local establishments in the city of Winder. I have personally trespassed him from business properties for loitering.

On the video footage, Mr. Sims could be seen walking onto the property from South Williams Street. He was wearing a dark blue and red hat, glasses, a white t-shirt, grey denim jeans, and white Nike Air Force One tennis shoes. I sent a BOLO report out for the suspect’s clothing description. I was informed by other Winder Units that they had been out with a male subject earlier that matched my suspect’s description. However, they stated the subject’s name was Romeal Starks.

One of the officers from that prior call came to my scene to review the footage. Ofc. Robertson attested that the person in the camera footage matched the male subject they had made contact with at McDonald’s earlier (Case# 2026-00015103). I advised Ofc. Robertson to conduct a GCIC/NCIC inquiry on Mr. Rowel Sims and determine if the person from McDonald’s matched the photo ID of Mr. Sims. He affirmed that Mr. Sims was the subject involved in the McDonald’s incident. Officer Barnard and Ofc. Maleski, who were also at McDonald’s, confirmed that the Romeal Starks subject was actually Mr. Sims after I described some information about him.

Furthermore, Ofc. Barnard mentioned that after Sims gave him the false information, he claimed he wasn’t issued an identification card. He also mentioned that he was from New Orleans. Note: during one of my initial interactions with Mr. Sims (Case# 2026-00012304), he also told me that he was from New Orleans and had just moved to Georgia; however he rovided proper information to me, and I was able to find a Georgia-issued Class CP license # [REDACTED BY AGENCY] that was associated to Mr. Romel Sims. Furthermore, I was informed by Mr. Sims himself that he lived on Lee Street, which was in reasonable walking distance to 123 E May Street.

I knew Mr. Romel Sims lived at [40 BLOCK] Lee Street, Apt [REDACTED], Winder, GA, 30680. Later on, I attempted to serve the warrant at the address around 2227 hours the same day. I made contact with Ms. [WITNESS #1], the homeowner. Ms. [WITNESS #1] advised that Mr. Sims was staying at the residence, but she directed her son, [REDACTED], to drive Sims to a behavioral health clinic in Athens, GA, earlier today. She advised that she was concerned for Mr. Sims after she found out about the McDonald’s incident that happened today. She also mentioned that they were his only family in the area, as his parents had left him in Georgia and gone back to New Orleans. Ms. [WITNESS #1] stated that Mr. Sims had been acting erratically, and she had no choice but to send him off for behavioral healthcare.

Based on the physical evidence and statements made to me, I procured warrants against Mr. Romel Sims for criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, and giving a false name to law enforcement. In reference to McDonalds case, a supplemental report will be submitted by Ofc. Barnard. Mr. [VICTIM #1] was provided with a business card containing our agency’s phone number and a case number to call to report additional information about the case and to receive information about the case. Mr. [VICTIM #1] stated that he would download the video footage and provide it for this case file. My Watch Guard body camera was worn and activated.

The procured warrants against Mr. Romel David Sims are as follows:

1.Criminal Trespass # 2026-0903MW
2.Disorderly Conduct # 2026-0904MW
3.Giving False Name to Law Enforcement # 2026-0905MW

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on March 31, 2026]

On March 31, 2026, at approximately 0036 hours, I, Ofc Melniciuc, was dispatched to 31 E May St, Winder, GA 30680, in reference to a Warrant Service. Ofc Pierce and I were already on scene, conducting a follow-up for a missing-persons case.

While conducting the follow-up, I observed, in the distance, a vehicle had pulled up in the parking lot at Dunkin Donuts, and two subjects were arguing and yelling. I then began yelling and advised both parties to stop, to which one of the males began advising that he wasn’t at fault and began walking towards me. The male subject, later identified as Romel Sims, then began approaching me. As he approached, I identified him from prior encounters. Earlier in the evening, Ofc Bruce and I attempted to locate Romel due to outstanding warrants he had. A female who resided at [40 BLOCK] Lee St, Winder, GA 30680, advised that Romel had left for Athens, GA.

Due to prior knowledge of Romel having warrants, I advised dispatch to send me another unit, and I began talking to Romel, asking him what had occurred at McDonald’s earlier in the day. Romel advised that nothing had happened, that he didn’t need to talk to me, and that he was going to leave. Romel then began walking away, and I advised him that I still needed to talk. As Romel began walking away, I grabbed him and controlled his wrist while holding him and advised him that he had warrants. Romel attempted to pull away, but I escorted him to the passenger side of my marked patrol vehicle and held him against it. I then repeatedly advised him that he had warrants and that he needed to put his hands behind his back.

During this time, I called for responding Officers to step up due to Romel’s active resistance. Romel then continued resisting and moving back and forth, refusing to comply with commands to stop. Sgt Wolfe then arrived, and Romel began pulling, pushing, and kicking around, trying to escape. With Sgt Wolfe and Ofc Pierce’s assistance, I finally gained control and placed Romel in properly fitted handcuffs, double-locking them to ensure they didn’t tighten further. Sgt Wolfe and I then pushed Romel against the back passenger door and advised Cpl Perrin to retrieve the WRAP Restraining Device due to Romel’s erratic and aggressive behavior. Romel then stated he Ubered back to Winder from Athens, GA, and that he has no warrants. While trying to search Romel for any weapons, illegal contraband, or means of escape, he continued to kick and move around.

During this time, I ran Romel Sims’ name through dispatch. Upon running his name and, later, his driver’s license number, dispatch confirmed that there were warrants out for Romel from Barrow County. Dispatch then confirmed that the warrant was valid and to place a hold on Romel.

A short time later. Cpl Perrin arrived with the WRAP Restraining Device, and Ofc Tello, Sgt Wolfe, and Cpl Perrin placed Romel in the WRAP Restraining Device due to his erratic and aggressive behavior. Romel was then placed in the back of my marked patrol vehicle.

I drove my marked patrol vehicle, code 1, to Barrow County Jail, where Romel was turned over to BCDC Staff.

The back seat of my patrol vehicle was searched before and after the transport of Romel, but nothing was discovered.