Jacob Roof

Name:
Roof, Jacob Nathaniel

Date of Booking:
01/03/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Pedestrian On Roadway – M

WILLFUL OBSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS – M

DISORDERLY CONDUCT – M

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 01/03/2026, while operating as a two-officer unit, Ofc. Zank and I, Ofc. Brister, were located at 102 W 49th St conducting a follow-up investigation with Ofc. Waldo related to a prior case.

Ofc. Zank was seated in the driver’s seat and I was seated in the front passenger seat of our marked patrol vehicle, which was parked facing east. Ofc. Waldo’s marked patrol vehicle was parked to the right of our vehicle, also facing east. A clearly posted “No Trespassing” sign was located on the east side of the building where officers were positioned.

While officers were conducting police business inside the patrol vehicles, I heard a male voice yelling from a nearby distance. Initially, I was unable to discern what was being said. I then observed a white male, later identified as Jacob Roof, walking westbound through the parking lot toward our location.

Roof appeared agitated and was speaking incoherently. I observed Roof standing in a bladed stance, with his right hand inside his right jacket pocket, gripping his waistband near his right hip. Roof continued yelling and loudly instructed officers to exit our patrol vehicles. Roof stated, “I’ll embarrass you in front of your partners.” When asked if this statement was intended as a threat, Roof replied, “If you want it to be, it can be.”

Roof continued yelling and cursing at officers and refused verbal commands to leave the area, despite remaining on clearly posted private property. Due to Roof’s aggressive behavior toward officers and his continued bladed stance while clutching an unknown object at his waistband, Ofc. Waldo repositioned her patrol vehicle to face north, forming an L-shaped configuration with our vehicles.

As Ofc. Waldo repositioned her vehicle, Roof began stepping backward north while maintaining the same bladed stance and gripping his waistband. When Ofc. Waldo exited her patrol vehicle, Ofc. Zank and I also exited our vehicle to assist with the contact.

As officers approached, Roof began stating that he did not want officers to approach or speak with him, which contradicted his earlier instructions demanding officers exit their vehicles. Officers attempted to identify Roof, but he refused to provide his name. Roof then stated that officers had been at his home the night prior. Ofc. Zank asked if his name was Jacob Roof, which he denied. I attempted to clarify by asking additional identifying questions, which Roof refused.

Based on Roof’s statements, I recalled a domestic incident officers responded to the night prior and asked if he lived further down Montgomery Street.

Roof then told officers to “take your badges off and find out what would happen,” which I interpreted as an invitation to engage in a physical altercation. Due to Roof’s repeated aggressive and threatening statements, I advised him to do what he was insinuating. Roof stated he would not engage because there were three officers present and only one of him.

Officers advised Roof that he was free to leave the area. Roof stated he would not leave because officers would follow him. As Ofc. Waldo began walking toward Roof, he walked westbound and entered the roadway of W 49th Street, continuing to yell.

Ofc. Waldo and Ofc. Zank disengaged and made contact with a SCAD Security Officer on scene. I initially began walking back toward my patrol vehicle; however, Roof resumed yelling at officers while remaining in the roadway. For officer and public safety, I continued observing Roof from a distance.

Roof remained standing in the roadway and was given multiple lawful commands to move out of the roadway and onto the sidewalk. Roof refused to comply. I then re-approached Roof and again issued commands for him to exit the roadway. As I approached, Roof continued backing westbound while remaining in the roadway and refusing lawful orders.

Due to Roof’s continued refusal to comply, I grasped his right wrist and instructed him to place his hands behind his back. Roof forcefully jerked his arm backward, breaking my grip. Simultaneously, Ofc. Zank approached from behind and forced Roof to the ground. Once on the ground, I crossed Roof’s legs to ensure containment. Roof then began complying with commands and was placed into double-locked handcuffs.

After being secured, Roof again refused to identify himself. He was escorted to my patrol vehicle, searched incident to arrest, and placed in the rear seat. After a short time, Roof provided his name and date of birth.

It was later learned that when Ofc. Zank and Ofc. Waldo spoke with the SCAD Security Officer, they were advised that Roof had been harassing and chasing SCAD students around campus just prior to our contact. A corporal working an off-duty SCAD detail responded to the scene and issued a SCAD ban form to Roof.

The on-duty sergeant and lieutenant responded to the scene. Roof was transported to Memorial Hospital for medical clearance and was later transported to the Chatham County Detention Center.

During a search of Roof’s person, a black Fantasy Master dagger-style knife was located in his right jacket pocket. The knife was seized for safekeeping and logged into the Savannah Police Department property room.

Charges
Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer O.C.G.A. 16-10-24
Disorderly Conduct O.C.G.A. 16-11-39
Pedestrian in the Roadway O.C.G.A. 40-6-96

[End of Narrative]