Rico Butts

Name:
Butts, Rico Koreen

Date of Booking:
10/08/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
FLEEING OR ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE A POLICE OFFICER FOR A FELONY OFFENSE

TRAFFIC/MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSE

TRAFFIC/MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSE

AGGRESSIVE DRIVING 

POSSESSION OF FIREARM OR KNIFE DURING COMMISSION OF OR ATTEMPT TO COMMIT CERTAIN FELONIES 

WILLFUL OBSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS – MISDEMEANOR 

PURCHASE, POSSESSION, MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION, OR SALE OF MARIJUANA

PURCHASE, POSSESS OR HAVE CONTROL OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE IN SCHEDULE I OR NARCOTIC IN SCHEDULE II

POSSESSION AND USE OF DRUG-RELATED OBJECTS

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT 

PROB VIOL SUPERIOR SPECIAL

TRAFFICKING IN COCAINE, ILLEGAL DRUGS, MARIJUANA, OR METHAMPHETAMINE 

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 October 8, 2025, I, Sergeant Tillman, was traveling south on Forest Hill Road approaching Vineville Avenue. As I passed through the intersection of Ridge Avenue, I observed a vehicle at the next intersection of Vineville Avenue disregard the red signal of the traffic control device. After the vehicle ran the red light at the intersection, the signal turned green shortly after. I proceeded through the intersection to catch up to the vehicle, and while approaching the next intersection of Park Street and Napier Avenue, the driver also disregarded that red signal.

I continued to catch up to the vehicle as it made a left turn onto Napier Avenue. As the vehicle neared the intersection of Grand Avenue, I activated my emergency blue lights and siren, signaling the driver to pull over. The vehicle continued for a distance, rounding the curve near North Napier Avenue. The driver then increased speed, prompting the initiation of a vehicle pursuit.

The vehicle continued to accelerate, passing Brookdale Avenue while traveling south on Napier Avenue. Upon reaching Hillcrest Avenue, the driver made a sharp left turn and continued south on Hillcrest Avenue, briefly slowing near Morgan Drive before accelerating again. The driver then continued at recklessly increasing speeds through the residential area, made a left turn onto Mary Drive, and continued driving at high speeds — reaching in excess of 50 miles per hour within a posted 25 mile-per-hour zone.

The driver then exited the residential neighborhood and turned back onto Hillcrest Avenue. The vehicle’s speed again increased to approximately 65 miles per hour as it traveled east on Hillcrest Avenue, passing Hillcrest Boulevard. The driver continued up the hill and neared the intersection of Hillyer Avenue, where he came to a stop. I exited my patrol vehicle and ordered the driver to exit his vehicle. Instead of complying, the driver repeatedly asked what he had done. After giving commands again, the driver suddenly sped away, making a sharp right turn onto Hillyer Avenue, followed by an immediate left onto Cherokee Avenue.

The driver continued to operate the vehicle recklessly, disregarding several stop signs prior to exiting onto Pio Nono Avenue from Hillyer Avenue. While traveling on Pio Nono Avenue, the driver made a left turn back onto Hillcrest Avenue and proceeded westbound. As he descended the hill, his speed increased to approximately 90 miles per hour. The driver continued back in the same direction from which he had originally fled, maintaining his reckless manner of driving.

The driver then attempted to make a left turn onto Mary Drive at a high rate of speed but was unsuccessful. The vehicle collided with a utility pole, and the impact was severe enough to snap the pole at its base. The driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot. I pursued the suspect and was informed by responding units that he was running toward Napier Avenue.

I repositioned my patrol vehicle onto Napier Avenue and continued my search. I checked the #2 side of [3100 BLOCK] Napier Avenue and encountered a female sitting in her vehicle. She stated that a male subject had just run through her backyard toward the #4 side of her home. I walked in the direction she indicated and relayed the information to assisting patrol units. While checking the area, I looked underneath vehicles parked on the #2 sides of both [3100 BLOCK] and [3100 BLOCK] Napier Avenue.

Underneath a vehicle parked on the #2 side of [3100 BLOCK] Napier Avenue, I located the suspect lying underneath the vehicle. With my service weapon drawn, I ordered the suspect to come out from under the vehicle. He complied and exited from the opposite side. I approached and maneuvered him to the ground, maintaining control until assisting deputies arrived and placed him in handcuffs.

After securing the driver, he was searched and transported back to the scene. The driver identified himself as Rico Butts Jr., providing his name and date of birth. A search of the vehicle was conducted, during which I located several items of evidentiary value. I located two digital scales; several baggies filled with white, purple, and light green powdery substances; a pill bottle containing a baggie with a crystal-like substance inside; and a green leafy substance suspected to be marijuana. The substances were suspected to include marijuana and crystal methamphetamine.

I also found a loaded firearm magazine in the vehicle’s center console. I requested that assisting deputies retrace the suspect’s flight path to determine if he had discarded a firearm, since the loaded magazine was located in the vehicle but not the weapon itself. Shortly after, deputies located a firearm in the rear yard of [3100 BLOCK] Hillcrest Avenue, an area the suspect had been observed running through and jumping fences between [3100 BLOCK] and [3100 BLOCK] Hillcrest. The firearm was identified as an FN 9mm, bearing serial number GKS0302031.

Inside the vehicle was a substantial amount of U.S. currency totaling $2,760.00. Based on the amount of narcotics and cash found, I requested dispatch to contact a narcotics investigator. During a continued search of the vehicle, I located a bookbag behind the driver’s seat that contained a sizable amount of suspected marijuana and a large crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. Additional currency was also found, bringing the total to $2,956.00.

Investigator Fletcher arrived on scene and was briefed on the sequence of events. Investigator Fletcher took possession of the narcotics and currency to positively identify, weigh, and apply the appropriate charges. It was later determined that Butts had an active warrant for Aggravated Assault through Bibb County, which was confirmed by dispatch.

The suspect’s vehicle was removed from the scene by Ackerman’s Towing Service. Butts was transported to Atrium Health for post-collision medical screening. He informed both myself and the medical staff that he did not wish to be seen and only wanted to be transported to jail. He signed a medical refusal form and was subsequently transported to the Bibb County Jail, where he was accepted without incident.

[End of Narrative]