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Name:
SUMLIN, MICHAEL DONNELL
Date of Booking:
12/08/2024
Reason(s) For Booking:
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
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 December 8th, 2024, at 02:31 hours, I was dispatched to [60 BLOCK] Keela Dr, Carrollton, GA, 30117, in reference to a Gunshot Wound / Domestic in progress.
Upon my arrival at 02:35 hours, while pulling into the neighborhood, I witnessed an older black male exiting a pickup truck. Witnessing this and having knowledge of the description of the offender of this incident, I exited my patrol vehicle and questioned the male to what’s going on. The male, (later identified as Offender, Michael Sumlin), stated “Yeah I shot him”. Michael was immediately placed into handcuffs and was secured in my patrol vehicle. During this time, a female (later identified as Complainant) ran up to my location from the address of [60 BLOCK] Keela dr. Noticing this, I secured the vehicle with Michael in it and then questioned the female where the victim was and she pointed at her residence and stated “in the doorway.”
I then proceeded to the residence, arriving to the residence, I witnessed a black male (later identified as Victim), [VICTIM #1], laying on the floor in the front doorway of the residence with what appeared to be blood coming from his upper left thigh. Noticing this, I placed a tourniquet high up on his left thigh and attempted to speak to him. During this time, [VICTIM #1] was incoherent and could not respond to me as well as going in and out of consciousness. Shortly after at 02:38, More deputies arrived to assist as well as EMS. [VICTIM #1] was then picked up by myself and other deputies and carried to the ambulance where EMS treated him further. The scene was then secured by assisting deputies.
Once the scene was secured, I spoke with complainant, [WITNESS #1]. Speaking with [WITNESS #1], I questioned her to what all happened. [WITNESS #1] stated at around 02:15 hours she was laying in when [VICTIM #1] showed up to her residence and began banging on the window, screaming. [WITNESS #1] then stated she ignored [VICTIM #1] for a brief moment thinking he would eventually leave, [WITNESS #1] then advised she got annoyed by [VICTIM #1] Banging on the door so she made her way to the front door and opened it. Opening the door, [WITNESS #1] advised [VICTIM #1] threw the door open and pushed her to the side with the door, making the statement “who is in here?, where is he at?” [WITNESS #1] then told [VICTIM #1] that nobody was in the home while following him to the bathroom which was located beside her bedroom.
Once they arrived to the bathroom, [WITNESS #1] stated [VICTIM #1] pushed the door open and realized that nobody was in the bathroom, after doing so, [WITNESS #1] stated that [VICTIM #1] turned around and placed both his hand on each of her shoulder, picking her up and slamming her into the bathtub. [WITNESS #1] advised that while lying in the bathtub, [VICTIM #1] placed both his hands around her neck and began choking her making the statement “you made me do this”. [WITNESS #1] then stated the [VICTIM #1] released her and exited the bathroom and at this time she called her father, Michael while getting up from within the bathtub and following [VICTIM #1]. [WITNESS #1] then advised they made it back to the front door where she advised [VICTIM #1] to leave the house to which he refused and grabbed her once again by the throat with both of his hands and slammed her to the floor near her child’s bedroom which is directly beside the front door of the residence.
During this time, [WITNESS #1] advised she heard multiple honks from a car and advised that she told [VICTIM #1] it was her father. [WITNESS #1] then stated that [VICTIM #1] began pacing back and forth in front of the front door making the statements “oh no, oh no.” [WITNESS #1] then advised her father, Michael knocked on the door, [WITNESS #1] then advised that she crawled to the front door and opened it from the floor to which she and [VICTIM #1] were greeted by Michael with Michael holding a shotgun in his hands, pointing it at [VICTIM #1] questioning [VICTIM #1] “You beating my daughter?” [WITNESS #1] then advised [VICTIM #1] looked at her and told her “tell him I didn’t do anything”. [WITNESS #1] then looked at her father, while lying on the floor and nodding her head up and down and verbally confirming to her father that [VICTIM #1] has been beating her. [WITNESS #1] then advised her father, Michael Sumlin fired one shot from a shotgun and struck [VICTIM #1] somewhere below his thigh and upper left thigh. [WITNESS #1] then stated that [VICTIM #1] fell to the floor and Michael left the scene stating “I’ll be back; I’m going to get clothes because I’m going to jail tonight.” She then advised this is when she contacted law enforcement.
At approximately 03:39 hours, Investigation’s arrived and took over the scene. Michael was escorted to the sheriff’s office by myself and turned over to investigations.
[VICTIM #1] was transported to tabernacle church by EMS, where he was life flighted to Grady hospital.
Michael’s Truck was inventoried and was taken from the location of the scene to the Carroll County Evidence Lot by the county wreaker.
Photos of the scene and [WITNESS #1] were taken and will be attached to this report.
[VICTIM #1] Jeep Patriot was towed away from the scene by Larry Collins Towing to their wrecker lot.
[End of Narrative]
The information below reflects all details available at the time of publication and was obtained directly from the official court database accessible to the public. Court records are subject to change at any time at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors, omissions, or discrepancies within the docket. No information provided should be construed as legal advice or opinion. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Case History:
12/10/24
BOND GRANTED
What this means: The court approved Michael Sumlin’s request for bond in Carroll County Superior Court case 24-WA-1370. Michael Sumlin is accused of aggravated assault. The judge granted him a $10,000 bond, which means he can be released from jail while his case is pending if he pays this amount and follows any court-ordered conditions, including having no contact with the alleged victim.
12/12/24
PUBLIC DEFENDER ENTERS CASE
What this means: The Office of the Public Defender, Coweta Judicial Circuit, filed paperwork to officially represent Michael Sumlin in his aggravated assault case. Public defender Maryellen Simmons entered her appearance as his attorney, meaning she is now his court-appointed lawyer since he qualified for free legal representation.
12/31/24
PRIVATE ATTORNEYS ENTER CASE
What this means: Two private attorneys, Candace E. Rader and Alexandra M. Reynolds, filed paperwork to represent Michael Sumlin in his aggravated assault case in Carroll County Superior Court. This means Michael Sumlin now has private counsel instead of the public defender, likely indicating he hired these attorneys to handle his defense.
12/31/24
BOND POSTED AND DEFENDANT RELEASED
What this means: Michael Sumlin posted his $10,000 bond through Free At Last Bonding company and was released from Carroll County jail. He can remain free while his aggravated assault case proceeds through the courts, as long as he follows all bond conditions, including staying away from the alleged victim.
1/16/25
ATTORNEY SCHEDULING CONFLICT FILED
What this means: Defense attorney Candace E. Rader notified the Carroll County Superior Court that she has a scheduling conflict and will be unavailable on January 16, 2025. This filing ensures judges know she cannot appear for any hearings on that date for Michael Sumlin’s case or other cases she’s handling.
10/31/25
ATTORNEY SCHEDULING CONFLICT FILED
What this means: Defense attorney Candace E. Rader filed another conflict letter with Carroll County Superior Court, notifying judges that she will be unavailable for hearings on November 4, 2025. This prevents any court proceedings in Michael Sumlin’s aggravated assault case from being scheduled on that date when his lawyer cannot attend.
11/12/25
ATTORNEY SCHEDULING CONFLICT FILED
What this means: Defense attorney Candace E. Rader filed a conflict letter notifying Carroll County Superior Court judges that she will be unavailable during the week of November 17, 2025. This ensures no hearings in Michael Sumlin’s case will be scheduled during that period when his attorney cannot appear in court.
12/29/25
ATTORNEY LEAVE OF ABSENCE FILED
What this means: Defense attorney Candace E. Rader filed a formal notice with Carroll County Superior Court that she will be on leave from the practice of law for multiple periods in 2026, including dates in January, February, March, April, May, September, November and December. This extensive leave will affect scheduling in Michael Sumlin’s aggravated assault case, as no hearings can occur when his attorney is unavailable.
1/5/26
SECOND ATTORNEY LEAVE OF ABSENCE FILED
What this means: Defense attorney K. Jason Bice filed notice that he will be on personal leave from April 3-14, 2026. Since Bice appears to be working with or covering for Candace E. Rader on Michael Sumlin’s case, this additional leave period further restricts when court proceedings can be scheduled in the aggravated assault case.
1/12/26
ATTORNEY LEAVE OF ABSENCE FILED
What this means: Defense attorney Candace E. Rader filed notice with Carroll County Superior Court that she will be on leave from January 12-16, 2026. This means no hearings can be scheduled in Michael Sumlin’s aggravated assault case during this period when his attorney is unavailable to represent him in court.
1/23/26
ATTORNEY LEAVE OF ABSENCE FILED
What this means: Defense attorney Candace E. Rader filed another leave notice with Carroll County Superior Court, this time for January 26-30, 2026. This continues the pattern of scheduling restrictions in Michael Sumlin’s aggravated assault case, as court proceedings cannot occur when his defense attorney is on leave.