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Name:
Graham, Ashley Ivy
Date of Booking:
08/19/2023
Reason(s) For Booking:
BATTERY – M
FALSE IMPRISONMENT – F
WILLFUL OBSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS – M
CRUELTY TO CHILDREN – 2ND DEGREE – 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 08/19/2023 at approximately 0253 hours I, Ofc. Medina, responded to [1100 BLOCK] E. 54th St. regarding a female that “put hands on” the complainant and her 7-year-old daughter.
Upon my arrival I made contact with [VICTIM #1]. She stated that a female subject, later identified as Ashley Graham, punched her in the face in front of her daughter, [VICTIM #2]. [VICTIM #1] stated that she went with [WITNESS #1] and [VICTIM #2] to Graham’s house to help her get items out of her home. [VICTIM #1] stated that all adult parties had been drinking.
[VICTIM #1] stated that at one point, she and Graham had an argument about how Graham was speaking to her daughter. [VICTIM #1] advised that she told Graham to “chill out” and then Graham struck her with a closed fist and she attempted to strike her back to defend herself from Graham. [VICTIM #1] also stated that [WITNESS #1] saw the fight and attempted to break it up.
[VICTIM #1] then stated that [VICTIM #2] saw the fight and began to hold her around her waist during the fight. [VICTIM #1] also stated that at one point, Graham locked [VICTIM #1], [VICTIM #2], and [WITNESS #1] in a room that could only be opened from the inside with a key. [VICTIM #1] stated that she, [VICTIM #2], and [WITNESS #1] had to climb out of a window in order to leave the house.
I also observed visible scratch marks on [VICTIM #1]’s right check that were raised. I also observed multiple broken fake nails on [VICTIM #1]’s fingers that had small amounts of blood around the edges of the fingernails. While I asked [VICTIM #1] what happened with her fingernails, [VICTIM #1] stated, “She wouldn’t let me leave”. [WITNESS #1] then followed this statement with, “She wouldn’t let nobody leave”.
[VICTIM #1] also advised that Graham is a friend of [WITNESS #1]’s. [VICTIM #1] mentioned after being locked in the room, Graham continued to attempt to fight her. Some parts of [VICTIM #1]’s statement were hard to understand because she appeared to speak with slurred speech.
I also spoke with [VICTIM #2] with [VICTIM #1]’s permission. She stated that she heard arguing coming from further in the house and observed Graham and [VICTIM #1] fighting. [VICTIM #2] stated, “My momma was trying to fight back, but she won”.
I observed a laceration on the bottom of [VICTIM #2]’s foot that had dried blood around it. I asked her how it happened, and she stated that it happened when climbing out of the window of Graham’s house and that Graham grabbed her around the waist and pushed her through the window..
I also spoke with [WITNESS #1]. He stated that he was sleeping on the couch when he heard [VICTIM #1] and Graham arguing. He stated that at one point they began fighting, but Graham was instigating the fight and [VICTIM #1] was trying to get away from the fight. [WITNESS #1] stated that he intervened and attempted to break up the fight.
[WITNESS #1] then stated that the door was locked and that he “pleaded with Ashley, ‘Please open the freaking door’. Yo we aint gotta be locked in here”. [WITNESS #1] also advised that the whole front room “got messed up”. [WITNESS #1] further stated that Graham opened the window and told them to “hop” out the window. [WITNESS #1] also stated, “She couldn’t find the key I take it” then advised that they all exited the house through the window and that even Graham exited through the window towards the very end.
[WITNESS #1] also advised that he asked for the keys to leave multiple times and that [VICTIM #2] and [VICTIM #1] walked home. [WITNESS #1] stated that the door had two dead bolt locks on it and required a key to open it. [WITNESS #1] stated that the only way to leave the room was to climb out the window.
No one at [1100 BLOCK] E. 54th St. knew where the incident location address was, but I was able to determine that the address was [20 BLOCK] Culver St., Graham’s residence.
I went to [20 BLOCK] Culver St. and was able to make contact with Graham. Upon my arrival, she was in the passenger seat of a white vehicle parked in front of [20 BLOCK] Culver St. that was not turned on. I knocked on the window and identified myself as Savannah Police, and she asked to see my badge.
I had Graham exit the vehicle where I smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage from her breath after she exited from the driver side. Graham repeatedy asked myself and Cpl. Taylor whether we had a pen and paper. I asked Graham if any physical altercation occurred at her residence with [VICTIM #1]. Graham stated that no physical altercation occurred at any point.
I asked this question multiple times and Graham continued to deny an altercation took place. Behind Graham, at the front of the house, I observed that the front window had the screen pushed out and was torn. Cpl. Taylor asked Graham how her window was broken. Graham replied that it was not broken. Cpl. Taylor stated that it was broken and Graham replied, “Oh absolutely, what’s your name?” and then stated that the window was not broken and told us to look at the window.
I looked at Graham’s hands and observed a slight laceration on one of Graham’s fingers. Graham stated that it was from a paper cut but would not hold her hand still, so I did not get a full look of it. I also observed that Graham had a piece of one of her fake nails missing from her finger. I asked what happened to her nails and Graham stated that she chewed the missing pieces off. I did not observe any other marks on Graham.
I then placed Graham in handcuffs that were double locked and checked for fit. While walking Graham to my patrol vehicle, she began to drag her feet and slumping her bodyweight, forcing me to modify my escort position by weaving my arm in between her arm and shoulder, and placing my palm on top of Graham’s shoulder.
Once at the police vehicle, Cpl. Taylor began searching Graham incident to arrest. During this time, Graham began pulling down her pants and yelling. To prevent Graham from pulling her pants down, I pressed her up against my vehicle and pulled her hands away from her waistline. Once the search was over, I attempted to place Graham in the back of the vehicle.
I managed to place Graham in a seated position inside of the vehicle, but Graham refused to go inside completely. Cpl. Taylor then pulled her in from the other side of the vehicle. I then attempted to shut the door, but Graham continued to resist by placing her feet in the way of the door. Once Cpl. Taylor moved to my side, I transitioned to the rear passenger side of the vehicle and pulled Graham further in the seat and managed to shut both doors.
While filling out paperwork, Graham continued to yell in the back of my car and yelled expletives towards me. Graham mentioned her daughter prior to me placing her in my vehicle, so I attempted to ask her if there was anyone that could stay with her daughter in which she repeatedly replied, “F*ck you!”. At one point I heard a noise in the back of my vehicle, and when I turned around, I observed that Graham was completely naked and managed to slip her left hand out of her handcuffs. I also observed that Graham was profusely sweating.
I stepped out of my vehicle and Graham then leaned back in the back seat, with her head toward the passenger side window, and used her fingers to spread her vag*na while saying, “I’m gonna p*ss back here”. After this, Graham continued to speak nonsensical words and shoved one of her feet through the plastic partition of the patrol vehicle next to the head of the driver seat. Cpl. Taylor called for more units to assist with placing Graham back in handcuffs. I then contacted Graham’s sister to gain more information on Graham’s child.
Graham’s sister, [REDACTED], arrived and advised that the child is 9 years old. Graham’s mother, [REDACTED], also arrived. Graham’s mother and sister stated that Graham had been raped in the past and has been heavily drugged in the past and may be suffering mental health issues. They attempted to convince Graham into putting her clothes back on and allowing us to place her back in handcuffs. Graham put her clothes back on and was placed back in handcuffs without further incident.
I then transported Graham to Memorial Medical Center in an attempt to have her placed under an involuntary mental evaluation. She was not accepted so she was medically cleared and transported to CCDC by Ofc. Brooks.
I advised Graham multiple times that she was arrested for Battery (16-5-23.1), two counts of False Imprisonment (16-5-41), Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree (16-5-70(c)), and Obstruction (16-10-24).
[VICTIM #1] received a CRN card and advised that she wanted to press charges. I did not ask [WITNESS #1] if he wished to press charges. I uploaded all pictures of the injuries that I observed to Evidence.com.
A supervisor was on scene.
EMS responded.
[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:
10/26/23
BOUND UP TO SUPERIOR COURT
What this means: The case is sent from a lower court to a higher court because it involves more serious charges.
11/9/23
DEFENSE ENTRY OF APPEARENCE
What this means: An entry of appearance is a formal document filed in a court case to notify the court (and all parties involved) that an attorney—or sometimes a party representing themselves—is officially entering the case.
2/28/24
INDICTMENT
What this means: A formal written accusation issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime. It does not determine guilt; it only allows the case to go to trial. Once an indictment is issued, the defendant is officially charged and must respond in court.
2/29/24
DEFENDANT’S ELECTION TO PROCEED UNDER OCGA 17-16-1 ET SEQ AND DISCOVERY DEMAND
What this means: The defendant is going under Georgia’s First Offender Act (OCGA 17-16-1), which lets a first-time offender plead guilty but avoid a criminal record if they follow the court’s rules. The defendant also asked the prosecution to give all evidence in the case so the defense can prepare.
6/7/24
ARRAIGNMENT
What this means: Is the first court appearance of a person who has been charged with a crime. At this hearing, the charges are read, and the defendant enters a plea (guilty, not guilty, or no contest).
6/21/24
PRETRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER
What this means: A court document that sets deadlines and dates for important steps in a criminal or civil case before the trial. It tells the lawyers and parties when to share evidence, file motions, and get ready for trial, helping the case stay organized and on schedule.
12/1/25
CASE CLOSED – NOLLE PROSEQUI
What this means: This is a legal term that means the prosecutor decides to drop the charges against you. It does not mean you are guilty or innocent; it just means the case will not move forward. This can happen if there isn’t enough evidence, the witness won’t cooperate, or the prosecutor chooses not to continue for other reasons.