David Phipps

Name:
Phipps, David Michael

Date of Booking:
06/27/2025

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

Willful Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers-Misdemeanor

Disorderly Conduct

Simple Battery

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 June 27, 2025]

On 06/27/2025 at approximately 16:51 hours I, Sgt. Burchett and Officer Thatcher while employed by the Adairsville Police Department, were dispatched to the Love Ice Cream And More business in reference to a customer who was being disruptive and behaving disorderly inside the business.

Upon arrival I located the suspect, who I immediately identified to be Mr. David Michael Phipps. I identified Mr. Phipps due to having been dispatched to Taco Bell for similar behavior. Mr. Phipps was displaying odd behavior but had not violated any laws. I was dispatched to the Knockout Nutrition business approximately thirty minutes later in reference to Mr. Phipps remaining in the business after he was told the business was closing. I spoke to Mr. Phipps and again he was behaving oddly but had not violated any laws. I requested Mr. Phipps to to leave the business and strongly recommended that he be on his way to his destination in Alabama.

I began speaking to Mr. Phipps at the Love Ice Cream shop and I asked why he had not left to his destination. Mr. Phipps advised that he had called a friend to ask for a ride but his friend said he was not able to give him a ride. Officer Thatcher arrived and I requested him to stay with Mr. Phipps while I spoke to the complainant. The caller had stated to dispatch that Mr. Phipps was shouting in the business and behaving disorderly and I wanted to confirm that information.

I located the juvenile employee who had called 911. I immediately observed the juvenile was extremely shaken up and was visibly upset and crying. The juvenile looked to be in terror and appeared to be very afraid of Mr. Phipps. I knew there was more to the incident than what she had told 911. I asked the juvenile what had occurred and she stated that she was working alone in the business. She stated that Mr. Phipps had entered the business telling her that he had been walking all day and was hungry and people kept kicking him out of businesses.

The juvenile stated that Mr. Phipps appeared to be on drugs. The juvenile stated that she was trying to be nice and she gave Mr. Phipps a small amount of ice cream for free to help him. The Juvenile stated when she attempted to hand Mr. Phipps the ice cream that Mr. Phipps without provocation and without her permission grabbed her wrist very hard and squeezed it aggressively. The juvenile grabbed my wrist and demonstrated the way he had grabbed her wrist. The juvenile squeezed my wrist very hard and pulled in a way that would be very threatening to a young juvenile that was alone with Mr. Phipps. The juvenile was very upset while explaining what had happened. The juvenile kept apologizing and stating that she did not want to get Mr. Phipps into trouble. I observed excessive mental pain being displayed by the juvenile.

I approached Mr. Phipps and I instructed him to turn around and to place his hands behind his back. Mr. Phipps began to resist and stated that the juvenile was lying. After being ordered a couple of times to put his hands behind his back Mr. Phipps continued to refuse. Officer Thatcher warned Mr. Phipps that he was going to be thrown to the ground if he continued to resist. Mr. Phipps continued to resist and Officer Thatcher placed Mr. Phipps onto the floor on his belly. I assisted Officer Thatcher on the ground and we placed Mr. Phipps into hand restraints.

Officer Thatcher and I escorted Mr. Phipps outside the business where we double locked the restraints and searched his outer garments. I escorted Mr. Phipps to my patrol vehicle and placed him into the rear seat. Mr. Phipps was very upset and was yelling loudly.

I returned to the store to speak to the juvenile further and gathered her information. The juvenile told Officer Thatcher that she did not know how to obtain the business’s video of the incident. The juvenile stated that her manager was on the way and the manager could access it. The video evidence will be collected at a later time if available.

I transported Mr. Phipps to the Bartow County Detention Center where he was released to the jail staff. At the jail I took a single photograph of a small very minor cut on his left hand which was the only visible injury from being thrown to the ground. I released Mr. Phipps to the jail staff without any further incident.

Arrest warrants were obtained on 06/28/2025 for the charges of Cruelty to Children in the 1st Degree which is a Felony. Simple Battery, Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers, and Disorderly Conduct. The Magistrate Judge advised that a stay away order would be issued to Mr. Phipps for the juvenile which would include the Love Ice Cream And More business.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on June 27, 2025]

On June 27th, 2025, at approximately 1651 hours. I, Officer J. Thatcher with the Adairsville Police Department Uniform Patrol Division responded to 6192 Joe Frank Harris Pkwy in reference to a suspicious person. Upon arrival, I spoke with Sgt. W. Burchett. Upon completion of his investigation, Sgt. Burchett advised Mr. Phipps that he was under arrest and to turn around. While attempting to place Mr. Phipps in hand cuffs, Mr. Phipps began to resist and not place his left hand behind his back.

I lifted Mr. Phipps off the ground and placed him on the floor where he landed on his stomach. I was then able to place both of Mr. Phipps’ hands behind his back. The hand cuffs were checked for proper fitment and double locked to ensure no further tightening.

Custody was then turned over to Sgt. Burchett.

[End of Narrative]