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Name:
Highfield, Michael Leonard
Date of Booking:
09/03/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
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 Thursday, September 4th, 2026, at approximately 1629 hours, I was dispatched to [REDACTED], in reference to a welfare check for an approximately [REDACTED BY AGENCY]-year-old child who was found on Hwy 140 unsupervised.
While en route, dispatch advised me that the caller saw the child standing on the side of the road. Dispatch said the caller had the child and was holding him until I got there. Shortly before my arrival, dispatch advised me that the dad walked down the driveway to where the caller was.
Upon my arrival, I observed several subjects standing in the driveway and multiple cars pulled over on the side of the road. I began speaking to Michael Highfield. I asked Michael if the Juvenile later identified as [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was his son. Michael said yes. Michael thanked the bystanders for getting his child and said this type of situation had happened with his older son before.
I asked Michael how his son ended up on Hwy 140. Michael said he guessed that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] went out the door. Michael said he was cleaning out his air conditioning unit with his dad when it happened. Michael said, “I guess he just got out.” Michael said, “It did happen one time before.” he then apologized to the bystanders and said, “It’s an honest mistake and shouldn’t have happened, really.” Dispatch advised me that they contacted the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS), and they had a caseworker en route to the scene.
[WITNESS #1], who witnessed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] on the side of the road, was holding [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. [WITNESS #1] handed me [REDACTED BY AGENCY], and I held him until an Adairsville Police Department Officer arrived on the scene. Once the Adairsville Officer was on scene, I handed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to him so I could continue with my investigation. While I was holding [REDACTED BY AGENCY], I observed that he was Filthy, with dirt all over him. [REDACTED BY AGENCY]’s hair was wet with sweat, and he also had several bug bites all over his body.
I began speaking to [WITNESS #2], who witnessed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] on the side of the road. [WITNESS #2] said that he was traveling down Hwy 140 and saw [REDACTED BY AGENCY] standing on the side of the road. [WITNESS #2] said that when he drove past, he looked for an Adult but did not see one. [WITNESS #2] said that as he was turning around, the other two witnesses pulled off onto the side of the road and picked up [REDACTED BY AGENCY].
More Adairsville officers arrived on scene to assist me. I spoke to Michael again and asked him what he was doing when [REDACTED BY AGENCY] wandered off. Michael said he was working on his Air conditioning unit. I asked Michael who was supposed to be watching [REDACTED BY AGENCY], and he said [REDACTED BY AGENCY]’s mom. While talking to Michael, I noticed he looked nervous and kept reaching inside his pockets. I asked Michael to stop reaching inside his pockets, but he continued to do so. I asked Michael if he had any weapons on him, and he said a knife. Michael gave me permission to retrieve the knife from his pocket and pat him down for any more weapons.
I began speaking to [WITNESS #3] and [WITNESS #1], who were the first ones that stopped and got [REDACTED BY AGENCY] away from the road. [WITNESS #1] said that as they were driving on Hwy 140, he noticed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] by the road. [WITNESS #1] said he looked and did not see any adults nearby, so he stopped his car and ran to [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. [WITNESS #1] said he saw a semi-truck driving down the road, so he grabbed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] because he was afraid that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was going to get run over. [WITNESS #1] said he would be worried if we let the kids continue to stay with the parents. I asked Dispatch to have EMS en route to check on [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to ensure he is ok.
Another officer stood at the bottom of the driveway with the subjects, and I walked up to the house. As I was walking to the house, I observed that the house was approximately between 100 and 200 yards off of the roadway. I made contact with Megan Willbanks, who is Michael’s fiancée and [REDACTED BY AGENCY]’s mom. I asked Megan how [REDACTED BY AGENCY] ended up in the highway. Megan said she is sick and was lying down. I asked Megan who was supposed to be watching [REDACTED BY AGENCY], and she said Michael was. Megan said, “We already have a DFCS case on us because of this.” I asked Megan if it was the same child, and she said the case was for a different child. Megan pointed to the screen porch door and said, “I figured since we’ve been keeping this door locked, it would be locked.
I told Megan that Michael said he was fixing the air conditioning unit when this happened. Megan said Michael thought the door was closed. I asked Megan if [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was inside at the time, and she said, “Yes, well, he was inside the house.” Megan said Michael was supposed to be watching [REDACTED BY AGENCY], and “he forgot about the door, I guess.” I got Megan and [REDACTED BY AGENCY]’s information. I told Megan she could stay at the house for the time being since she had the oldest son with her ([REDACTED BY AGENCY]).
I went back down to the end of the driveway and began speaking to [WITNESS #1] and [WITNESS #3]. As I was speaking to them, Sgt. Clonch and Cpl. Ashworth arrived on scene. I asked [WITNESS #1] and [WITNESS #3] how long they had the kid. [WITNESS #1] said that they had the kid for almost 10 minutes before Michael showed up at the bottom of the driveway. [WITNESS #1] said Michael showed up right before I arrived on scene. [WITNESS #3] said he was the one who called 911 and said his story is the same as [WITNESS #1]’s. I asked them where [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was when they saw him, and [WITNESS #1] said he was standing between the driveway and the white fog line on the side of the road.
I went back over to Michael and asked him to tell me his side of the story again. Michael said that he thought Megan was watching [REDACTED BY AGENCY], and he went outside to work on the air conditioner. I detained Michael and placed him in handcuffs. Michael was placed in the back of my patrol car, and we relocated up the driveway to the house.
Once I was back up at the house, I started speaking with [REDACTED], who is Michael’s stepfather and [REDACTED BY AGENCY]’s grandfather. I asked [REDACTED] to tell me what happened. [REDACTED] said he wasn’t sure. [REDACTED] said that the house is divided in half. He lives on one side, and Michael, Megan, and the children live on the other side. [REDACTED] said that he went outside and fixed the air conditioning unit on his side of the house. [REDACTED] said that after it was fixed, he went inside and went to sleep.
I spoke to Megan again and asked her to tell me her side of the story again. Megan said that she, Michael, [REDACTED BY AGENCY], and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] were all in the bedroom. Meghan said that she and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] went to sleep in the bedroom, and she thought that Michael was watching [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. I asked Megan if Michael said he was going to watch [REDACTED BY AGENCY], and she said yes. I asked Megan if she knew what time [REDACTED BY AGENCY] walked out of the house, and she said that she wasn’t sure.
I went to the back of my patrol car and read Michael Miranda Rights. Michael decided to waive his rights and talk to me. Sgt. Clonch asked Michael if Megan was lying in bed asleep. Michael said she was lying in bed, but didn’t think she was asleep. Sgt. Clonch then asked Michael if [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was with her, and he said yes, and he thought [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was with her too. Sgt. Clonch asked Michael if [REDACTED BY AGENCY] followed him out when he went to fix the air conditioning, and Michael said he wasn’t sure.
DFCS caseworker [REDACTED] arrived on scene and began talking to Michael and Megan. I went over to Cpl. Ashworth’s car, where she was watching [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. I noticed a rash on [REDACTED BY AGENCY]’s chest and arm. I went over to Megan and asked her if she knew what the rash was. Megan said she thought it was heat rash. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was in Cpl. Ashworth’s car with the ac on for at least 30 minutes, and the rashes did not go away. After looking at [REDACTED BY AGENCY], I observed red rashes on his arms and chest, a blister on his feet near his big toe, dirt all over him, including on his neckline and behind his ears, and bug bites all over his body. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] also had bags under his eyes and seemed to be tired. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] fell asleep in the back of the patrol car. During the time that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was on the side of the road standing on the asphalt, the weather was approximately 98 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pictures of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] were taken with mine and Sgt. Clonch’s body-worn cameras for evidence. Both Michael and Megan were placed under arrest for Cruelty to Children in the second degree (FVA). DFCS took [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and placed them in state custody.
DFCS has a case open at this location for [REDACTED BY AGENCY] due to him going into Hwy 140 unsupervised on a previous date (see case report 2026-00018740 for further). Both Megan and Michael admitted to having an open DFCS case.
I transported Michael, and Sgt. Clonch transported Megan to the Bartow County Jail. Both Michael and Megan were transferred over to Jail staff without incident.
Warrants were obtained against Michael and Megan for Cruelty to children in the second degree (FVA).
[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:
9/7/26
BOND SET FOR MICHAEL LEONARD HIGHFIELD — CRUELTY TO CHILDREN 2ND DEGREE CHARGE
What this means: Michael Leonard Highfield, who is charged with Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree in Bartow County Superior Court (Case No. SUW2026002222), was issued a bond on September 7, 2026. The bond was set at $5,000, secured through Bond James Bond, a bonding company based in Cartersville, Georgia. A bond allows the accused to be released from custody while the case moves through the court system, with the requirement that Highfield appear in court as required. The warrant number associated with this bond is CE0183236, issued under the authority of Bartow County Sheriff Clark Millsap. The court date was noted as “To Be Mailed,” meaning Highfield was to be notified by mail of his next required court appearance. The bond document was received by the Clerk of Superior Court of Bartow County on September 16, 2026. Failure to appear as required could result in an arrest warrant being issued and the bond being forfeited.