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Name:
Motley, Daryl Max, Sr
Date of Booking:
09/25/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Reckless Conduct
Willful Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers-Misdemeanor
False Imprisonment
Sexual Battery
Sexual Battery
Rape Strongarm
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 Thursday, September 24th, 2026, at approximately 2147 hours, I, Lieutenant B.Y. Cole, Corporal R.P. Hawley, Officer N.H. Clanton, Officer Pearce, and Officer T.J. Brock arrived on scene at 375 Cherokee Place (Red Lobster) in an attempt to locate a known wanted subject, Daryl Motley.
Upon arrival, Mr. Motley was found to be in the men’s restroom standing in front of the door. Officer Brock attempted to push the door open; when doing so, Mr. Motley stated that he was armed with a gun and would kill himself if officers entered the restroom. All officers at this time retreated to cover while maintaining visual on the restroom door. Mr. Motley was advised he was under arrest and to come out of the restroom with his hands up. Mr. Motley stated he was not coming out of the restroom and made the statement that he would turn himself in later. Due to Mr. Motley barricading himself inside the restroom and the danger of a firearm being present, the Cartersville Police Department SWAT team was activated.
While awaiting SWAT team members to arrive, Officer Clanton and Lt. Cole attempted to speak with Mr. Motley via [REDACTED]’s (Red Lobster employee) cellular device to bring the incident to a peaceful resolution. Mr. Motley declined all attempts at negotiations and remained barricaded inside the restroom. SWAT team members arrived on scene, and due to unsuccessful negotiation attempts, at approximately 23:30 hours, six (6) rounds of less-lethal oleoresin capsicum (OC) impact rounds as well as two (2) CS gas ferret rounds were deployed in an attempt to gain compliance from Mr. Motley.
Mr. Motley exited the restroom with his hands up and complied with orders from officers. Mr. Motley was placed under arrest by Lt. B.Y. Cole, with handcuffs behind his back, double-locked, and checked for proper fit. Mr. Motley was escorted out of the business, where he was searched incident to arrest, yielding no contraband. Mr. Motley was placed in the rear seat of Cpl. Hawley’s patrol vehicle, which was searched before shift and before and after each transport, yielding no contraband. Mr. Motley was transported to the Bartow County Adult Detention Center, where he was released to jail staff.
Mr. Motley had multiple warrants through the Euharlee Police Department for Rape, 2 counts of Sexual Battery, as well as False Imprisonment.
Due to Mr. Motley not complying with the lawful commands given by officers on scene, as well as there being other employees present in the business and the danger presented to the other employees as well as the responding officers, Mr. Motley was additionally charged with Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers (M) and Reckless Conduct. Copies were attached to the report.
I met with [REDACTED], General Manager, and advised him of what had occurred inside the business. Mr. [REDACTED] was made aware of the damage to the restroom door and was given a case card.
[End of Narrative]
All information is sourced directly from the official, public court database. Case history is organized and curated by The Georgia Gazette staff. The “What this means:” explanations are written by AI and reviewed by our staff before publishing.
Court records are subject to change at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors or omissions. Nothing here is legal advice. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Case History:
10/1/26
RULE NISI ISSUED IN BARTOW COUNTY CASE AGAINST DARYL MAX MOTLEY, SR.
What this means: A Rule Nisi was issued in Bartow Superior Court in the case against Daryl Max Motley, Sr. (Case No. SUCR2026001610). A Rule Nisi is a court order that sets a matter for a hearing at a future date, directing the parties to appear and show cause — essentially the court’s way of putting a pending issue on the calendar for formal consideration.
10/7/26
GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT — 6 COUNTS FILED AGAINST DARYL MAX MOTLEY, SR.
What this means: A Bartow County grand jury returned a true bill of indictment against Daryl Max Motley, Sr. during the August Term 2026 of Bartow Superior Court, formally charging him with six felony and misdemeanor counts. District Attorney Erle J. Newton III of the Cherokee Judicial Circuit is prosecuting the case. The indictment was filed October 7, 2026. Motley, Sr. is accused of the following:
Count 1 — Rape (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-1): Motley, Sr. is accused of having carnal knowledge of the victim forcibly and against her will on or about July 23, 2026, in Bartow County.
Count 2 — Aggravated Sexual Battery (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-22.2): Motley, Sr. is accused of intentionally penetrating the victim’s sexual organ with his finger, a foreign object, without her consent, on or about July 23, 2026.
Count 3 — Exploitation and Intimidation of a Disabled Adult (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-102(a)): Motley, Sr. is accused of willfully inflicting physical pain upon the victim, a disabled adult, by penetrating her sexual organ, on or about July 23, 2026.
Count 4 — False Imprisonment (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-41): Motley, Sr. is accused of unlawfully arresting and detaining the victim without legal authority, restricting her personal liberty, on or about July 23, 2026.
Count 5 — Sexual Battery (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-22.1(b)): Motley, Sr. is accused of intentionally making physical contact with the intimate parts of the victim’s body — specifically touching her breast — without her consent, on or about July 23, 2026.
Count 6 — Obstruction of an Officer (O.C.G.A. § 16-10-24(a)): Motley, Sr. is accused of knowingly and willfully hindering Michael Cox, a law enforcement officer with the Cartersville Police Department, by refusing to comply with lawful orders during service of an arrest warrant, on or about September 24, 2026.
10/13/26
BOND HEARING HELD — BOND DENIED FOR DARYL MAX MOTLEY, SR.
What this means: A bond motion hearing was held on October 13, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Bartow Superior Court in the case against Daryl Max Motley, Sr. Following the hearing, the court issued an order denying bond. This means Motley, Sr. will remain in custody without the option to post bail while the case moves forward.
11/10/26
ARRAIGNMENT SCHEDULED FOR DARYL MAX MOTLEY, SR.
What this means: An arraignment has been scheduled for November 10, 2026, at 9:01 AM in Bartow Superior Court. The case update notes this as a “true bill” arraignment, meaning it follows the grand jury’s formal indictment of Daryl Max Motley, Sr. At an arraignment, the defendant is formally presented with the charges against them and enters a plea — typically guilty, not guilty, or no contest. This is a standard next step following an indictment.