Matthew Plotner

Name:
Plotner, Matthew Allen

Date of Booking:
10/24/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
BATTERY – FAMILY VIOLENCE (1ST OFFENSE) MISD

CRUELTY TO CHILDREN-CAUSES EXCESSIVE PHYSICAL OR MENTAL PAIN – 1ST DEGREE

CRUELTY TO CHILDREN-ALLOW CHILD TO WITNESS FELONY/BATTERY/FAMILY VIOLENCE – 3RD DEGREE

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 Friday, October 24, 2025, I, Corporal Shepherd, was on duty as the school resource officer at Villa Rica High School (600 Rocky Branch Road).

At approximately 08:32 hours, I was contacted by Assistant Principal [WITNESS #1] requesting me to respond to the front office. Mrs. [WITNESS #1] advised an altercation was taking place in front of the school and that a female student had been thrown to the ground.

I responded to the front entrance where I observed a female [REDACTED BY AGENCY] crying and visibly upset on the sidewalk, and a male, Matthew Plotner standing at the driver’s door of his vehicle, a black 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer (Georgia License Pla[REDACTED BY AGENCY]).

I met with Matthew and escorted him to the sidewalk, while Mrs. [WITNESS #1] escorted [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and her sister, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to the front office. I observed an abrasion and blood coming from Matthew’s right forearm. I asked Matthew what happened. Matthew advised that his daughter, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was refusing to go to school. Matthew advised [REDACTED BY AGENCY] asked him to take [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to the middle school and drop her off first before taking her to school. Matthew advised [REDACTED BY AGENCY] has several tardies and absences from school and was upset due to the tardies. Matthew advised [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was refusing to exit the vehicle if he took her to school. Matthew advised he got to the school and forcibly removed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] from the front passenger seat. Matthew advised when he removed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] from the vehicle, they both fell onto the sidewalk. I asked Matthew if that was how he scraped his arm. Matthew advised yes. I requested another unit and detained Matthew in double locked handcuffs to the rear, checking for proper fit. I obtained pictures of Matthew and Sergeant Walton arrived on scene and stood by with Matthew.

I met with Mrs. [WITNESS #1], who advised she was alerted by Mrs. [REDACTED] that something was occurring in the car rider line. Mrs. [WITNESS #1] advised she looked out the window and observed a man pulling a female student, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] out of a black vehicle. Mrs. [WITNESS #1] advised the student, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] got back inside the vehicle and the man got back into the driver seat of the vehicle. Mrs. [WITNESS #1] advised the man exited the vehicle again, went to the front passenger door and opened the door again and pulled Piper from the vehicle, causing them both to fall to the ground. I had Mrs. [WITNESS #1] complete a statement form.

I met with Assistant Principal [REDACTED] who had the school camera pulled up. I watched the video and observed at 08:32am, a black 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer pull into the front entrance of the school and slam on the brakes, causing the vehicle to rock back and forth. I observe the male, Matthew Plotner exit from the driver seat, slammed the driver’s door closed and walked around to the front passenger door, opened the door and reached inside the vehicle, grabbing his daughter, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] by her arms and forcibly removed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] from the vehicle by pulling her from her arms, causing [REDACTED BY AGENCY] left shoe to fall off her foot.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] stands on the sidewalk, puts her show back on and Matthew reaches into the vehicle and begins getting [REDACTED BY AGENCY] belongings to give to her. Matthew hands [REDACTED BY AGENCY] a bag and reaches back into the vehicle. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] leans down in front of the passenger door and reaches into the vehicle. Matthew grabs [REDACTED BY AGENCY] by her shoulders and lower back and pulls [REDACTED BY AGENCY] up and pushes her back towards the sidewalk. Matthew then hands [REDACTED BY AGENCY] her bookbag and other items, closes the front passenger door and walks back to the driver side of the vehicle. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] opens the front passenger door and leans into the vehicle, Matthew sits down int the driver seat and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] sits back down into the front passenger seat.

Matthew exits the vehicle and walks back around to the passenger front door. Matthew pushes the door closed and immediately opened the door back and reached inside the vehicle, grabbing [REDACTED BY AGENCY] by her right arm and pulled [REDACTED BY AGENCY] from the front passenger seat out of the vehicle, causing them both to fall to the ground. Matthew begins to get up and leans over [REDACTED BY AGENCY] yelling in her face. Matthew and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stand up and Matthew goes back inside the vehicle and handed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] her belongings. Matthew walks back around to the driver’s door and opens it as I approach him. I placed the video of the incident onto a thumb drive and placed the thumb drive into the case file.

I met with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] who advised she wasn’t finished getting ready for school and wanted to be dropped off second after her sister [REDACTED BY AGENCY], who was in the backseat of the vehicle. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised her sister goes to Villa Rica Middle School. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised after telling Matthew to drop [REDACTED BY AGENCY] off first, Matthew began driving recklessly, speeding and almost hitting other vehicles around them.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised while on the way to the high school, Matthew grabbed her by her face and busted her lip. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised she was really scared. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised Matthew told her he would drag her from the vehicle if she didn’t get out herself. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised she didn’t get out and Matthew pulled her out hard, and her head slammed into the passenger door. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised her stuff was strewn everywhere, so she went back into the vehicle to get it but also because she was embarrassed about everyone seeing her dad do all of this. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised she shut the door and Matthew opened it again, and dragged her out of the vehicle again, causing them both to fall to the ground. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised Matthew began screaming in her face when all the people came outside and they were separated.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] completed a statement form. I observed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] bottom lip to be busted and bleeding and I observed a red mark to the center of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] forehead. I obtained pictures of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and had [REDACTED BY AGENCY] complete a statement form.

I met with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] (13YOA) who was a passenger in the rear seat of the vehicle. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised her dad, was yelling at [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was being disrespectful and told her father to shut up. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised her father got angry and began driving recklessly and grabbed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] face. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised when they got to the school, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] yelled at him again and he pulled [REDACTED BY AGENCY] out of the vehicle. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised [REDACTED BY AGENCY] got back into the vehicle and he pulled her out of the vehicle again, falling to the ground. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] completed a statement form.

I met with Matthew again, advised him he was under arrest and explained the charges. Officer Tolbert and Officer Davis arrived to transport Matthew. Officer Davis searched Matthew incident to arrest with no contraband recovered and placed Plotner into the rear seat of his patrol vehicle. Plotner was transported to the Carroll County Jail for housing.

Plotner was charged with Cruelty to Children In the 1st Degree (OCGA 16-5-70B), Cruelty to Children In The 3rd Degree (OCGA 16-5-70D) and with Battery Family Violence (OCGA 16-5-23.1F). Carroll County Warrants for the same were completed.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] mother, [REDACTED] arrived. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] were turned over to [REDACTED] and she was provided with information for the report.

[End of Narrative]