Roderick Groce

Name:
Groce, Roderick Dontrell

Date of Booking:
02/24/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT – F

BATTERY-FAMILY VIOLENCE-SUBSEQUENT CONVICTION OR PRIOR FORCIBLE FELONY CONVICTION – M

FALSE IMPRISONMENT – F

CRIMINAL TRESPASS – FAMILY VIOLENCE – M

OBSTRUCTING OR HINDERING PERSONS MAKING EMERGENCY TELEPHONE CALL – 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 February 24th, 2026, I, Officer Schaff, responded to the address of [800 BLOCK] West 39th Street in regards to a domestic incident between a male and female. I arrived shortly after in a marked Savannah Police patrol SUV.

Upon arrival, I began speaking with the female who was determined to be the victim of the domestic altercation and identified her as [VICTIM #1] ([REDACTED BY AGENCY]/1984). Ms. [VICTIM #1] stated the man who she named, RODERICK GROCE ([REDACTED BY AGENCY]/1980) choked and strangled her inside of their home. She followed up by saying they have been living together since January.

After running Mr. Groce’s information into NCIC/GCIC, I received results showing he was on active probation. She advised it started as verbal argument due to Mr. Groce wanting her to sleep with him, to which she said she did not want to. The two became argumentative and overall increased into what Ms. [VICTIM #1] described as a screaming match.

Soon after, Ms. [VICTIM #1] advised that she was cornered near the back door of the residence and pushed into the corner wall, while being choked by Mr. Groce. She stated that he choked her with both hands and also poked her in the eye. Noting that I observed visible red marks around her neck as well as what appeared to be a popped blood vessel in her left eye. Photos of the injuries were uploaded via Evidence.com.

Mr. [VICTIM #1] claimed in order to prevent being choked unconscious, she lifted her knee and her arms and pressed into Mr. Groce to ultimately create distance between them. She stated that she went to the truck outside the front of the address and closed the door. In response, Mr. Groce followed and began breaking pieces of the truck. I observed the door handle completely ripped off and the actual handle on the grass next to the vehicle. The damaged vehicle was a 2006 Chevy Silverado (GA: [REDACTED]).

I asked Ms. [VICTIM #1] a series of questions from the Domestic Violence Lethality Report. It will be submitted as a supplemental report.

I contacted Sgt. Sameulls and advised him of the incident. He arrived on scene and was able to get in contact with a DV detective.

Family violence detectives arrived on scene shortly after. After speaking with detectives, we once again entered the residence through the back door. An unknown white male was sleeping underneath a blanket but refused to speak or give any information to officers.

Other units canvassed for Mr. Groce after Ms. [VICTIM #1] gave a description of a “bald man, heavier set, blue jeans, white t-shirt, and a black hoodie”. Ms. [VICTIM #1] advised that he could possibly be walking north on Burroughs towards West 34th Street. After units canvassed thoroughly, Mr. Groce was not located.

I gave Ms. [VICTIM #1] a CRN card and explained that she could ultimately go to a safe shelter if she wished to avoid any further altercations. She denied saying she would stay with her auntie who was on scene.

[End of Narrative]