Dawson Abernathy

Name:
Abernathy, Dawson Perry

Date of Booking:
04/20/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
Cruelty to Child,<18YOA Present/Hears Acts/ Commits Forcible Felony/Batt/FV Batt-3rd Degree

Cruelty to Child,<18YOA Present/Hears Acts/ Commits Forcible Felony/Batt/FV Batt-3rd Degree

Battery- Family Violence (1st offense) MISD

Aggravated Assault-Strangulation

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 Sunday, April 20th, 2025, at 1416 hours, I was dispatched by phone to speak with [WITNESS #1] to report a domestic dispute that occurred at [20 BLOCK] Commerce Row NE, Cartersville, GA 30121 between her daughter/ [VICTIM #1], and her boyfriend/ Dawson Abernathy.

[WITNESS #1] advised that she has custody of [VICTIM #1]’s two sons, 6-year-old [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and 5-year-old [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and stated that they will sometimes stay at [VICTIM #1] and Dawson’s house on the weekends. She advised that she let them go with [VICTIM #1] and Dawson this weekend for an Easter egg hunt yesterday.

[WITNESS #1] advised this afternoon that when she picked the boys up from [VICTIM #1] and Dawson’s house, they told her that [VICTIM #1] and Dawson had been fighting the night before, and Dawson pointed a gun at [VICTIM #1]. They stated that Dawson choked [VICTIM #1] and that she had scratches, bruises, and a bloody nose. The children also told [WITNESS #1] that Dawson put a blanket over their faces and pushed on them, and that [VICTIM #1] said, “That’s your kid, what are you doing?”

While on the phone with [WITNESS #1], I overheard one of the boys say that Dawson made a clicking noise with the gun, put it in the dresser, and then got the gun back out and pointed it at [VICTIM #1]. [WITNESS #1] also stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] found a wrench and hit Dawson in the head with it to get him off his mom. The boys told [WITNESS #1] that Dawson told them to “pinky promise” him not to say anything about what happened.

Due to the statements given, myself and other deputies went to the residence to get statements from Dawson and [VICTIM #1].

When I arrived on scene at [20 BLOCK] Commerce Row NW, I made contact with [VICTIM #1]. I noticed bruises and scratches on her face and neck, and she said she got them from the Easter egg hunt yesterday. She advised that she had been drinking and was unsure how she got them, but she advised multiple times that it was from the egg hunt. [VICTIM #1] stated that she and Dawson were in an argument last night, but said it never got physical.

I then spoke to Dawson who advised he and [VICTIM #1] were arguing yesterday and that he was being an “as*hole” to her during the argument. He stated she got in his face and he shoved her onto the bed, and stated that was the only time the argument was physical. Dawson advised that while at the Easter egg hunt, he got upset because he was ready to leave, and [VICTIM #1] wasn’t. He said she had been drinking, and they began arguing in the car on the way home. Once they got home, he said the boys stayed downstairs and played the video game, while he and [VICTIM #1] argued upstairs.

Dawson advised he heard [REDACTED BY AGENCY] telling [WITNESS #1] about the gun and what happened last night, but stated he was not going to retaliate because they do not get along.

Later on, [VICTIM #1] finally told Cpl. Patterson and Sgt. Gilman said that she was trying to protect Dawson. She said that she was going to let the day pass and was going to gather her things and leave him the next date. She said during the argument that Dawson pushed her onto the bed. She said she got back up and went to push him back when he shoved her to the bed and began choking her. She said that she was unable to breathe while she was being choked but never became unconscious. She stated that the incident only lasted around 10 seconds and couldn’t remember if Dawson hit or punched her in the face. She said no gun was brought out during the altercation, but did advise that [REDACTED] did hit Dawson with a wrench to get him off of her. She stated that Dawson also threw a sheet over the kids heads and told them not to watch during the altercation.

Cpl. Patterson took pictures of the marks and bruises on [VICTIM #1]’s face and neck. I provided her with a case number and advised her to contact the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office if she had any questions.

Due to [VICTIM #1]’s statement and the marks on her face, Dawson was placed under arrest, transported to the Bartow County Jail, and turned over to Jail staff.

[End of Narrative]