Roderick Penson

Name:
Penson, Roderick Marquis

Date of Booking:
12/11/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
FALSE IMPRISONMENT

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

BATTERY-FAMILY VIOLENCE (1ST OFFENSE)

BATTERY-FAMILY VIOLENCE (1ST OFFENSE)

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 12/11/2025, I was dispatched to 1344 S Hwy 29, Homelodge Motel room [REDACTED] in reference to an Assault with Injuries.

When I arrived, I met with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] I immediately observed that she had bruising and swelling on both eyes, and that she had dried blood in both of her nostrils. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] did not want to tell me what had happened at first.

During my questioning, she stated that this morning around 0100 hours, she was supposed to pick her boyfriend, who she identified as Roderick Penson, up from work. She stated that she fell asleep and was unable to pick him up. She then stated that he walked back to the motel room, and began banging on the door. She stated when she opened the door for him, he waked in and they began arguing when he punched her with a closed fist in the face.

She then stated that he got in the shower, and she went back to sleep. At approx. 0330, after he got out of the shower, she stated that he woke her up stating he wanted to have sex. She told him that she didn’t want to, and he again got mad, and started hitting her. I asked her if he attempted to force himself on her and attempt to rape her. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated “No, he didn’t try to force it on me when I told him no.”

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] then stated that she wanted to leave because of “the bad vibe,” so she left the room and went down to her vehicle. Once in her vehicle she noticed that the key was not in it like she normally leaves it, and that she “guesses he went to her car and got her key.” I asked her if he had permission to enter into her vehicle, and she replied “Yes.” She then showed me her left arm, which was swollen and had bruising on the bicep area.

At this point, both DS Henderson, and DS McCusker arrived on scene. DS McCusker continued to speak with [REDACTED BY AGENCY], while DS Henderson went to look to see if he could locate [REDACTED BY AGENCY] vehicle in case Mr. Penson had left. I then went to speak with management to try to obtain a door key in case Mr. Penson did not come to the door.

While DS Henderson was locating [REDACTED BY AGENCY] vehicle, he notified myself, and DS McCusker that he had eyes on Mr. Penson, and detained him, placing him in handcuffs to the rear, checking for proper fit, and double locking for safety. We then searched Mr. Penson and retrieved a cigar and a lighter from him.

I read Mr. Penson his Miranda rights and asked if he understood them as I had read them. He stated “Yes.” I then asked him if he would speak to me and answer questions, to which he again stated “Yes.” I then asked him what was going on between him and [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. He stated that she was supposed to come and pick him up from work at approx. 0100 hours, and failed to do so. When he got back to the motel room, she was asleep. When he got into the room, he said that he told her to leave, but she refused to do so.

He then stated that at approx. 0330 hours, she went downstairs to her vehicle to leave, but forgot her key on the counter in the room. He then stated that she came back to the door, and started beating on it, but he wouldn’t open it. He then said she left. He stated that he went looking for her after to tell her to get her stuff and leave, but couldn’t find her.

I then asked him how she got all of the bruises and red marks on her. He stated “I don’t know how she got the marks. She wasn’t with me, I was at work.” DS Henderson then asked him how he got a scratch on his nose that was fresh. He stated that it was her little dog. He then stated that he doesn’t want her around him, and that he never touched her.

Myself, and DS Henderson then went to speak with the manager to see if we could view video footage from the camera that points in the direction the room was in. While looking at video footage, it we could observe Mr. Penson walking down the landing and entering the room at approx. 0100 hours. At approx. 0130 hours, the door opens, and Mr. Penson walks out and then back in the room.

There is nothing on the video footage again until approx. 0330 hours. The neighboring room’s tenant can be seen opening his door, and walking towards room [REDACTED], when the door opens and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] walks out. The neighboring tenant then walks back into his room, and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] walks down to the stairs to her vehicle. Mr. Penson can be seen moving the curtain back in the window and watching [REDACTED BY AGENCY] then walks back to the room at approx. 0333 hours and enters.

At approx. 0337 hours, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] leaves the room again, with Mr. Penson following her. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] can be seen walking backwards away from Mr. Penson when he then grabs her arm, and pulls her back towards him. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] attempts to grab the railing, but Mr. Penson pulls her away from it, and steps in between her and the staircase, keeping her from leaving.

After a few minutes, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] then walks down to her vehicle, and Mr. Penson goes back to the room. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] then goes back to the room, and knocks on the door, but Mr. Penson doesn’t open it. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] can then be seen walking away from the room, and is not seen on the video again. It can be seen that Mr. Penson then leaves the room multiple times searching for [REDACTED BY AGENCY] before returning to his room.

I then went to the neighboring room, and spoke with the tenant briefly who stated he heard screaming that woke him up around 0330 hours. He opened the door to check to, and saw [REDACTED BY AGENCY] walking towards the stairs looking “distraught”. The tenant stated that he did not want to be a part of anything, so he went back into his room and went back to sleep.

At that point, I went back to Mr. Penson and advised him he was under arrest. Mr. Penson was placed in the rear of my patrol vehicle and seat-belted in. I then provided [REDACTED BY AGENCY] with a case card containing this report number, and DS McCusker advised her on how to obtain it.

I then transported Mr. Penson to the Coweta County Jail, while DS McCusker took pictures of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] injuries. DS McCusker also provided [REDACTED BY AGENCY] with a Victim Notification form. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that she did not want to fill out a witness form.

DS McCusker stated to me that shile taking pictures of [REDACTED BY AGENCY], that she stated to her that she did lose conciousness briefly while Mr. Penson had his hand around her neck and throat.

DS McCusker will be submitting all photos taken to evidence.com under this report number. She will also be providing a supplemental report.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] then went to the hospital to have her injuries checked out.

[End of Narrative]