James Dooley

Name:
Dooley, James Joseph

Date of Booking:
09/15/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Cruelty to Child-2nd Degree-Criminal Negligence/Cause Excessive Physical/Mental Pain

Cruelty to Child-2nd Degree-Criminal Negligence/Cause Excessive Physical/Mental Pain

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, September 14, 2026, at approximately 2332 hours, I responded to [REDACTED], in reference to a request to assist Bartow County DFCS employee, [REDACTED], in the removal of two juveniles from the residence, identified as [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY].

Upon arrival, I met with [REDACTED], and I observed her inside the residence. While making contact, I observed the residence to be in an uninhabitable state. Inside the residence, I observed large quantities of dog fecal matter throughout the home, insects, spider webs, rat droppings, and an extremely strong odor of dog fecal matter inside the residence. The odor was also so noticeable that it could be smelled as I approached the residence door. I was notified by [REDACTED] that both [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] live in the residence with their guardian, James Dooley, who I had previously spoken with over the phone earlier this date and talked with [REDACTED] as well in reference to BCSO case 2026-00030646 and 2026-00030695.

[REDACTED] advised that, while on scene, she obtained placement for [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and was waiting for a placement option for [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. During the course of the investigation, I made my way back to the residence, where I spoke with James briefly and asked if he could show me the food available in the residence, which he stated he could. I followed James through the residence to the bottom level, where the home was in equally unsanitary conditions. While in the “kitchen,” I observed several rat droppings along the countertops and floor, old food stuffed inside of a toaster oven, and items strewn throughout the kitchen. While showing me the pantry, James advised that there weren’t a lot of items in it right now. When he pointed me to the pantry, I observed several large rats running all over the shelves where the food is stored.

After observing this, I requested to see where the children’s rooms were, and he advised they were upstairs, allowing me to go see them. While upstairs, I found the unsanitary conditions continued. Additionally, I found the door to [REDACTED BY AGENCY]’s room was secured with a string. Upon looking into [REDACTED BY AGENCY]’s and [REDACTED BY AGENCY]’s bedrooms, I observed them to be sleeping on dirty old mattresses with no sheets on them, saw insects in their rooms, as well as dog bowls and misc strewn items in [REDACTED BY AGENCY]’s room. The mattresses were also found to be turning a dark gray/black in color due to the amount of dirt and other unsanitary conditions. I also observed the bathroom directly across from them to be in non-working condition and found it completely unsanitary, with an unknown substance suspected to be fecal matter in the toilet. While upstairs, Bartow County Deputy Stevens photographed the residence.

I asked James where the juveniles were supposed to be bathing, which he advised they did in his bathroom in the master bedroom. I requested to see it, and James initially seemed to be hesitant to do so. However, he showed me the bathroom. While showing me the bathroom, I passed through his bedroom, which seemed to be in the same state as the remainder of the residence. Upon opening the bathroom, James advised that dogs were being kept in the bathroom. I found there to be (7) puppies contained in the bathroom, which also had an excessive amount of fecal matter on the floor.

Ultimately, DFCS deemed the residence to be unsuitable for the children and removed them from the residence. While speaking with James, he advised that the residence had been in this state for some time, due to not having help since his partner died. James advised he adopted both [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] when they were both babies, and they have lived with him almost entirely, advising they’ve been in this residence for 15 years. After concluding the investigation and allowing DFCS to leave with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY], I placed James under arrest for two counts of Cruelty to Children, 2nd degree. James was searched incident to arrest, yielding negative for weapons or contraband. James was then placed in the rear of Deputy Steven’s patrol vehicle, and Deputy Steven transported James to the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office Adult Detention Center. James was then turned over to jail deputies without incident.

While James was being transported, I stood by at the residence after contacting Bartow Animal Control due to the residence being alleged to have 13 dogs in the rear lot, the (7) puppies in the residence, and a cat. Animal Control arrived and took possession of the (7) puppies for now, advising they would return during daytime hours and retrieve the remaining animals. The house was then secured prior to my leaving the scene.

I later obtained arrest warrants for James through the Bartow County Magistrate (Cruelty to Children, 2nd degree) (x2).

[End of Narrative]