Jalen Smith

Name:
Smith, Jalen Maurice

Date of Booking:
01/12/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Disorderly Conduct

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 Monday, January 12th, 2026, at approximately 0912 hours, I was dispatched to Walmart located at 101 Market Place Blvd., Cartersville, Bartow County, Georgia, in reference to a dispute.

Prior to my arrival, Bartow Dispatch advised that the caller, Jalen Smith, reported he was in the rear restroom when an unknown white male, approximately 40-50 years old and wearing glasses, kicked the restroom stall door while Jalen was using it. Dispatch further advised that Jalen later stated he was at the front restroom and was being verbal with the subject. Jalen then told Dispatch he was returning to the rear restroom to retrieve his jacket and stated, “don’t worry about it because I have something for him,” before disconnecting from Dispatch.

Upon my arrival, I was directed toward the rear of the store by self-checkout employee [VICTIM #1], who stated that Walmart Asset Protection had gone to the back of the store where Jalen had been. I checked the rear men’s restroom and did not locate Jalen. From my observation, the restroom stalls appeared normal with no visible damage. While walking back toward the front of the store, a customer advised me that the individual involved in an argument had gone toward the front with a manager.

I returned to the self-checkout area and spoke with [VICTIM #1] and two customers. [VICTIM #1] stated that Jalen was wearing black coveralls and that she overheard Jalen make a statement to the effect of, “I’ll fu*k you up, I’ll fu*k all of y’all up,” loudly in front of customers. [VICTIM #1] stated this caused fear among customers and employees. She believed the statement included her because she had told Jalen he was not allowed to speak that way inside the store.

I was advised by Walmart Asset Protection that Jalen had been escorted out of the store due to his behavior. [WITNESS #1] with Walmart Asset Protection advised that Jalen was now standing near our patrol vehicles. [WITNESS #1] stated that Jalen had gone to the front desk and asked whether any male employees were working so one could escort him to the front restroom and stand by while he used it.

I made contact with Jalen, who stated he was the caller. Jalen said he had been using the restroom with the door locked when Walmart employees tried to tell him the door was not locked after he spoke with them about it. Jalen referred to Walmart employees as “as*holes” and made a statement to the effect of, “I don’t know why I would be sh*tting with the door open.” Jalen stated that while in the rear restroom, a male subject forced the door open, and when Jalen asked what he was doing, the male replied that Jalen was “just on your fu*king phone.” Jalen stated he told the male he was using the restroom and to leave.

Jalen stated the male exited the restroom, and Jalen later went to the front of the store and contacted Bartow Dispatch. Jalen admitted he became verbal with the cashier. Jalen stated he returned to the rear restroom to retrieve his jacket and asked someone inside the restroom who was using the restroom as he was during this incident to hand it to him. Jalen stated he was then escorted out of the store by Asset Protection, which upset him because he believed the male who kicked in the door should have been removed instead. When asked where the male was, Jalen stated he believed the male was still in the store. Jalen stated he talks with his hands and denied having any weapons.

Jalen stated he went to the front desk and requested a male employee to escort him to the restroom, but stated that the employees did not assist him. Jalen said he and the other male separated when he went to retrieve his jacket, and the male walked away. Jalen stated he would not be aggressive unless someone was aggressive toward him and denied making threats.

When asked about the interaction with the cashier, Jalen stated that everything happened quickly and that he could not recall exactly what was said, but felt that the cashier was “attacking” him verbally. Jalen was unable to provide any additional description of the male subject regarding his clothing. Jalen mentioned he had previously been in jail and prison and referenced what could have happened if he had a gun in the restroom. Jalen also stated he was on probation. I observed a clear plastic sandwich bag in the front pocket of his coveralls. When asked, Jalen showed me the bag, which was empty.

I had Jalen sit on a bench inside the store with another deputy while I spoke further with Asset Protection and reviewed video footage. [WITNESS #1] advised that Jalen had gone into the front restroom alone. [WITNESS #1] stated she believed that another male knocked on the stall door, after which Jalen exited the restroom, followed the male, and made statements to the effect of, “I’ll fu*k you up, I’ll fu*k all of y’all up,” while walking toward the rear of the store. [WITNESS #1] stated Jalen cursed at [VICTIM #1] while following the male.

[WITNESS #1] stated she went to the rear restroom while Jalen retrieved his jacket. [WITNESS #1] stated that Jalen exited the restroom and asked her, “Did you say something to me?” She stated she told Jalen he was not allowed to speak to cashiers that way and escorted him out of the store. [WITNESS #1] stated Asset Protection was not aware of any other male being in the rear restroom when the door was allegedly kicked in, and only knew of the male Jalen followed from the front restroom.

I then spoke with employees [VICTIM #1] and [VICTIM #2]. Both stated Jalen was cursing loudly in front of customers and following another male away from the restrooms. [VICTIM #1] stated she attempted to stop Jalen by telling him, “No sir, not in here.” Both employees stated Jalen made statements to the effect of, “I’ll fu*k you up, I’ll fu*k all of y’all up,” which they believed were directed toward them and caused fear among employees and customers.

While reviewing video footage with [WITNESS #1], I observed Jalen pacing in front of the front restroom, entering the restroom, and later following an older male wearing blue jeans and a red shirt while yelling. I observed the male turn around briefly before continuing toward the rear of the store, with Jalen continuing to follow him near the self-checkout area.

When asked about pacing in front of the restroom, Jalen stated he was on the phone with Dispatch. Jalen denied entering the front restroom, which was inconsistent with the video footage. Jalen stated he did not remember entering the restroom. Jalen stated the male he followed was the same male who forced the restroom door open earlier.

When asked how the door was forced open, Jalen became upset and asked if he was under arrest. I advised I was attempting to determine what occurred. Jalen stated he felt I was trying to arrest him. Jalen then stated the male pushed the door open while he was using the restroom. When asked whether the door was locked, Jalen responded with a statement to the effect of, “Why would I sh*t with the door open?” Jalen became increasingly irate and accused me of treating him like a child and stated that my demeanor was upsetting him. Jalen even became upset due to me smiling trying to appear friendly toward him.

Jalen later admitted to arguing with the male near self-checkout but stated he could not remember what the male said. Jalen stated he told the male a sentence to the effect of, “You shouldn’t look at me when I’m in the bathroom sh*tting.” Jalen stated he felt he was being treated as the problem and compared my statements to those made by Asset Protection. Jalen denied making any threats and stated that customers believed he made threats because he is a Black male.

Based on Jalen’s statements, employee statements, customer reactions, and video evidence, I placed Jalen under arrest for Disorderly Conduct under Bartow County Magistrate Court Citation (50-76) due to his behavior near the self-checkout area. [VICTIM #1] and [VICTIM #2] declined prosecution for Terroristic Threats and Acts (M).

Disorderly Conduct Subsections Violated:

(1) Acts in a violent or tumultuous manner toward another person whereby such person is placed in reasonable fear of the safety of such person’s life, limb, or health;

(3)Without provocation, uses to or of another person in such other person’s presence, opprobrious or abusive words which by their very utterance tend to incite to an immediate breach of the peace, that is to say words which, as a matter of common knowledge and under ordinary circumstances will, when used to or of another person in such other person’s presence, naturally tend to provoke violent resentment, that is, words commonly called “fighting words”

(11)Makes, or causes to be made, any loud, boisterous, or unreasonable noise or disturbance to the annoyance of any other persons nearby or near to any public highway, road, street, lane, alley, park, square, or common whereby the public peace is broken or disturbed.

Jalen was placed in handcuffs, which were checked for proper fit and double locked. Jalen was transported to the Barlow County Sheriffs Office Detention Center and turned over to jail staff without incident.

Walmart Asset Protection requested Jalen be served with a Criminal Trespass Warning. The warning was completed and read to Jalen, who acknowledged understanding he is not to return to Walmart.

Due to the unidentified male subject not being located, this case remains active pending further investigation to locate the other party involved in reference to the possible charge of Simple Assault.

[End of Narrative]