Ashawnda Quarterman

Name:
Quarterman, Ashawnda Monique

Date of Booking:
11/12/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
SIMPLE ASSAULT – PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM EMPLOYEE – M

RESIST/OBSTRUCT/OPPOSE LAW ENFORCEMENT – F

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 November 12th, 2025, at approximately 1930 hours, I responded to 2004 Beech St regarding an auto theft with a weapon that just occured.

I activated my emergency lights and sirens to respond.

The call notes advised that an employee stole the reporting party’s vehicle and attempted to stab her.

Upon arrival, I made contact with the victim, [VICTIM #1], who was shouting at me to “go get her”. I asked where the suspect was and what they looked like. Ms. [VICTIM #1] advised she was inside the store and that she was the only female inside.

*It should be noted that I observed Ms. [VICTIM #1]’ vehicle parked near the front door, still running and the windshield wipers on.

I went inside and spoke to Janaya Harris. I observed what appeared to be a small cut on Ms. Harris’ hand but otherwise did not see a knife or any other blade on her person. Ms. Harris advised that Ms. [VICTIM #1]’ had come to her work, angry over a previous incident that she had nothing to do with. As Ms. [VICTIM #1] was confronting her, Ms. [VICTIM #1] threw a drink on her. Ms. Harris advised that she then went and retrieved a knife to defend herself as Ms. [VICTIM #1] was saying she wanted to fight her. Ms. Harris then chased her outside. Ms. Harris stated “I jumped in her car and tried to run her over with the car”.

At this point, I ceased asking questions and placed Ms. Harris under arrest. Ms. Harris was secured in double locked handcuffs.

As I was escorting Ms. Harris outside to secure her in a marked patrol unit, she began arguing with one of the other women in the parking lot. As she did so, she began pulling to the left. I ensured I maintained positive control over her. At this time, another female subject, later identified as Ashawnda Quarterman, suddenly began charging us from the fuel pumps.

Being that I didn’t know the whereabouts of the knife, and concerned this subject may have it, I drew my department issued sidearm, took aim at Ms. Quarterman and gave loud verbal commands for her to back up. At the same time, OFC Torres took Ms. Quarterman to the ground from behind. I then redirected my barrel towards the ground while giving loud verbal commands for the other subjects to back up as they began moving towards OFC Torres. These other subjects complied.

Ms. Harris continued to pull against me while shouting at the other subjects, so I placed my left foot in front of her right foot, and used my hip to displace her weight and lower her to the ground. As Ms. Harris went to the ground, I supported most of her weight and leaned her so that she would not strike her head on the ground. I simultaneously gave commands for Ms. Harris to get on the ground.

As the other subjects retreated, I holstered my weapon but knelt over Ms. Harris, keeping her on the ground, so that I could protect her from further physical attack attempts.

OFC Russell arrived on-scene and assisted OFC Torres in securing Ms. Quarteman in a marked patrol unit. Task Force Officers arrived on-scene and took over custody of Ms. Harris, securing her in a marked patrol unit.

SGT Norris arrived on-scene due to my show of force. MCU Detective Naureus arrived on-scene, and Chatham EMS arrived on-scene.

Upon Detective Naureus reviewing the incident, the determination was made to maintain this case at the Patrol Level.

I then spoke to Ms. [VICTIM #1], who advised that she was at the store and had just gotten a soda (from the fountain) for her and her eight year old son, [VICTIM #2], when Ms. Harris was provoking her regarding a previous incident where Ms. [VICTIM #1] car got egged. As the conversation escalated, Ms. [VICTIM #1] tossed the liquid of her drink (not the cup), which was soda, on Ms. Harris. Ms. Harris then went to the back of the store and came back with a large knife. Ms. [VICTIM #1] retreated out of the store, followed quickly by Ms. Harris who was chasing her with the knife.

Ms. Harris then went to Ms. [VICTIM #1] vehicle, at which point Mr. [VICTIM #2] fled out of the vehicle and ran over to Ms. [VICTIM #1]. Ms. Harris then got into the vehicle and reversed away from the pump. Ms. [VICTIM #1] and Mr. [VICTIM #2] got onto the grassy median between the parking lot and the road, at which point Ms. Harris then drove straight at Ms. [VICTIM #1]. Ms. [VICTIM #1] dodged the vehicle, which drove onto Pennsylvania Ave and turned back into the parking lot and tried to hit her again.

Ms. [VICTIM #1] provided two cell phone videos that supported her statement.

Detective Naureus provided cell phone recordings of Parkers camera footage that also supported Ms. [VICTIM #1]’ statement.

Ms. [VICTIM #1] provided consent for me to search her vehicle for the knife Ms. Harris was holding. Ms. [VICTIM #1] advised the knife was a large kitchen knife that was gray and white. I found a large kitchen knife on the driver side floorboard of the vehicle. This knife (butcher style knife) had a white handle with a small amount of red substance on the handle that appeared consistent with blood. This knife was later logged to the SPD Property Room as evidence.

I spoke to a witness, [WITNESS #1], who advised that she and her sister, [WITNESS #2], came into the store and saw Ms. [VICTIM #1] walking around and that she appeared to be angry about something. Ms. [WITNESS #1] advised that Ms. [VICTIM #1] wasnt yelling, but that she was clearly upset. When Ms. [WITNESS #1] and her sister got up to the counter, Ms. [VICTIM #1] attempted to gain their verbal support about someone egging her car, to which they advised they would be upset too.

Ms. [VICTIM #1] then threw a drink on Ms. Harris. Ms. Harris then retrieved a knife from the rear of the store and chased after Ms. [VICTIM #1] out of the store. Ms. [WITNESS #1] then began recording on her phone (one of the videos Ms. [VICTIM #1] sent me). Ms. [WITNESS #1] advised that she observed Ms. Harris attempt to run Ms. [VICTIM #1] over with her vehicle twice.

Ms. Harris and Ms. Quarterman were transported to the East side Precinct for interviews.

Ms. Quarterman was advised of her Constitutional Rights via a Miranda Warning card. She agreed to speak to me without legal representation.

Ms. Quarterman advised that she was initially being blamed for the egging of Ms. [VICTIM #1] vehicle, but that she had a recording of Ms. Harris claiming that Ms. Quarterman had nothing to do with it. Ms. Quarterman advised that Ms. Harris was now claiming that she (Ms. Quarterman) did the egging, and she was upset because of it. When Ms. Quarterman arrived on-scene, Mr. [VICTIM #2] ran up to her vehicle and advised that Ms. Harris tried to run him and his mother over. Ms. Quarterman advised that she got really angry at this and that is why she charged towards Ms. Harris and myself.

Ms. Quarterman was charged with Obstruction and Simple Assault.

I then advised Ms. Harris of her Constitutional Rights via a Miranda Warning card. She agreed to speak to me without legal representation.

Ms. Harris advised that after Ms. [VICTIM #1] threw the soda on her, Ms. Harris went to the back and retrieved a white and gray kitchen knife, and chased Ms. [VICTIM #1] out of the store and back towards her car. Ms. Harris then got into Ms. [VICTIM #1] vehicle (which she advised no one else was in) and tried to run Ms. [VICTIM #1] over. Ms. [VICTIM #1] jumped out of the way, so Ms. Harris drove around back into the parking lot and tried to run her over again, but Ms. [VICTIM #1] dodged again. Ms. Harris then drove to a nearby dirt road to think about what she did and returned to the scene.

Ms. Harris was charged with the following:
Aggravated Assault
Aggravated Assault
Hijacking a Motor Vehicle First Degree
Possession of a Knife During Certain Felonies
Cruelty to Children in the Thrid Degree

Ms. Harris and Ms. Quarterman were transported to Memorial Medical Center by other officers for medical clearance and then transported to CCDC.

[End of Narrative]