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Name:
Cook, Paul Nicholas
Date of Booking:
07/27/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Terroristic Threats and Acts (Fel)
Obstructing or Hindering Persons making Emergency Phone Calls
Battery against a Person who is 65 YOA or Older/patient of a long term care facilitiy/assisted living/home health care/hospices
Battery against a Person who is 65 YOA or Older/patient of a long term care facilitiy/assisted living/home health care/hospices
Terroristic Threats and Acts (Fel)
Obstructing or Hindering Persons making Emergency Phone Calls
Speeding
DUI-Driving Under the Influence
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 July 27, 2026, at approximately 0040 hours, I responded to [100 BLOCK] Weston Way, Cartersville, GA 30121 for a report of a domestic disturbance.
Upon arrival, I met with [VICTIM #1], who stated that he was watching TV when his adult son (Paul Cook) started yelling and cussing at another person over the phone. [VICTIM #1] stated Paul was being excessively loud, so he went to Paul’s room and knocked on the door. [VICTIM #1] stated that through the door, he requested that Paul be quieter before returning to the couch in the living room.
[VICTIM #1] stated that Paul entered the room a short time later and began yelling at him. [VICTIM #1] stated that Paul was mostly blaming him for his life being a failure. [VICTIM #1] stated that Paul then picked up his cell phone from a table and struck him on the right side of his head very hard.
[VICTIM #1] stated that the hit, combined with Paul yelling, had now woken up his wife ([VICTIM #2]), who was in bed and is disabled. [VICTIM #1] stated that he went into his and [VICTIM #2]’s bedroom, where Paul followed him, continuing to yell. [VICTIM #1] stated that Paul then went to the corner of the bedroom and retrieved an antique shotgun that he had stored there. [VICTIM #1] stated that Paul messed with the firearm for a short time, attempting to cock the gun or open it (as it was a break-open style). [VICTIM #1] stated that Paul finally opened the gun and observed that it was unloaded.
[VICTIM #1] stated that he then attempted to grab the firearm, and [VICTIM #1] snatched it away from his grasp before striking him on the right side of the head with the barrel of the gun.
I observed a blood blister on the top of [VICTIM #1]’s ear, and it was purple and appeared swollen around the blister. It appeared to me to be consistent with being struck with a hard object. [VICTIM #1] was unsure if the phone or the gun caused the injury, as he stated he was struck in approximately the same area on his head.
[VICTIM #1] stated that [VICTIM #2] had now gotten out of bed and attempted to separate the two, and she was knocked down by Paul, causing her to injure her right leg.
I observed [VICTIM #2]’s right leg and saw multiple small bleeding cuts, bruises, and blood blisters, which she stated had not been there before the altercation.
[VICTIM #1] stated that Paul then began pointing the unloaded shotgun at both himself and [VICTIM #2] and saying, “Bang” while simulating shooting the gun at them. [VICTIM #1] stated that he did this multiple times.
[VICTIM #1] stated that he told Paul he was going to call 911. [VICTIM #1] stated that Paul then went back into the den and retrieved [VICTIM #2]’s phone (he still had possession of [VICTIM #1]’s). [VICTIM #1] stated that Paul then began telling them that if they wanted to call 911, they would have to take their phones from him. [VICTIM #1] stated that he believed Paul was trying to goad them into another physical altercation.
[VICTIM #1] stated that Paul then began demanding the keys to a vehicle owned by him but commonly used by Paul. [VICTIM #1] stated that he retrieved the keys and gave them to Paul, hoping to prevent further violence. [VICTIM #1] stated that Paul then put down the gun, placed their phones back in the den, and left.
[VICTIM #1] stated that he called 911 a short time later.
[VICTIM #2] confirmed [VICTIM #1]’s series of events.
Both victims refused medical care. Both [VICTIM #1] and [VICTIM #2] stated that they are scared of Paul and that they did not want him to ever return. I advised both parties of eviction procedures and how to obtain a temporary protective order against Paul.
I provided [VICTIM #1] with a copy of the report number and the domestic violence brochure.
Both victims’ injuries were documented on BWC 960.
While I was speaking with [VICTIM #1] and [VICTIM #2], I was notified by Georgia State Patrol (GSP) that they had pulled over Paul and arrested him for the charge of Driving Under the Influence on 1-75 southbound near Emerson.
I met with GSP at the Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center, where I was given custody of Paul. While attempting to change Paul’s cuffs, he began pulling away, dropping his weight, and attempting to prevent me from placing a different pair of cuffs on him. Myself, Hospital Security, and GSP all had to hold Paul down to place him back into handcuffs.
I attempted to read Paul his Miranda rights, and he refused to listen and continued to interrupt me and use foul insults towards me. I asked Paul if I should believe just the side of his parents or if he wanted me to read his rights, and he stated to just listen to whatever his parents had said.
I then transported Paul to the Bartow County Jail, where he began to make threats to fight and stated that he wanted to kill himself. Paul began insulting Jail staff and attempting to hit his body against items and people to cause himself an injury.
Jail staff removed Paul from the intake, and I turned over custody to them.
Throughout my entire interaction with Paul, I could smell the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his person. Paul also had slurred speech and watery, bloodshot eyes. Paul also spontaneously uttered to me that he was very drunk.
I then contacted the Magistrate Judge and obtained a warrant for terrorist threats and acts, battery against a person(s) 65 years of age or older, and interference with someone attempting to call 911.
[End of Narrative]