James Hall

Name:
Hall, James Jackson

Date of Booking:
12/17/2024

Reason(s) For Booking:
Sexual Battery – Misdemeanor

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.]

I (Cpl. B. Williams) responded in normal mode to [1900 BLOCK] S Riverview Cir. In reference to a sexual battery.

Upon arrival, I made contact with [VICTIM #1], who stated that his boss touched him at 2011 Krugg St (Albany Pallet Exchange). [VICTIM #1] stated that his boss later identified as James Hall had touched him on the thigh on 12/12/2024, and he told him that he didn’t want him touching him. [VICTIM #1] stated that he told James that it was weird and uncomfortable for him to touch him. [VICTIM #1] stated that he told his mother, and his mother told him to record the next time he did it to him. [VICTIM #1] stated that when he went to work, he was walking past James, and James bumped into him. [VICTIM #1] stated that he was filming with his cellphone discreetly, and James began laughing. [VICTIM #1] stated that James then touched his pe*is through his clothing, and he told him to stop. [VICTIM #1] stated that he told James to stop and that it was weird that he was touching him. [VICTIM #1] stated that he told the people at the front office about James touching him, and he went home to call the police. [VICTIM #1] stated that he is a straight male and is unsure about James’s sexual orientation. [VICTIM #1] stated that he and James never hung out. [VICTIM #1] stated that James took him to the hospital one day in November because he hurt himself on the job.

I then made contact with [WITNESS #1], who stated that [VICTIM #1] called her about James. [WITNESS #1] stated that [VICTIM #1] told her about James touching him inappropriately on the job. [WITNESS #1] stated that [VICTIM #1] sent her a video of James touching his pe*is through his clothing. [WITNESS #1] stated that she identified James in the video by his voice. [WITNESS #1] stated that she had no prior complaints about James until today. [WITNESS #1] stated that she knew that James was on probation but did not know for what. [WITNESS #1] stated that after she looked up James on the internet, she found out he was a sex offender. [WITNESS #1] stated that she contacted the HR department in Dawson, GA, and informed them of the situation. [WITNESS #1] stated that she contacted the police just in case she needed to file a report with the police.

I then made contact with [WITNESS #2], who stated that he was looking for James to give his saw back. [WITNESS #2] instructed one of the workers to go get James, and they attempted to take him back to the office. The worker came back and told [WITNESS #2] that James had left in his car and fled the scene. [WITNESS #2] later stated that one of the workers told him that James saw the police, stated that they were there for him, and left the scene.

James was later found in the Flint River after he had attempted suicide by jumping into the river from the bridge located in 500 blk. of the Liberty Express. The Albany Fire Department rescued James by boat. MED12 transported James to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.

I then made contact with James at 417 W 3rd Ave. James was not in my custody at this time. James stated that he did nothing wrong. James stated that he ran into [VICTIM #1], and [VICTIM #1] started yelling, “Don’t touch me”. James stated that [VICTIM #1] has a workers’ comp case on the company and is taking it out on him. James stated that no one will believe him because of his past history.

I observed the cellphone video of this incident. On the cellphone footage, [VICTIM #1] is holding his cellphone near his groin area. A white male hand reaches and touches [VICTIM #1]’s groin area, and the white male states, “I wanna see that”. [VICTIM #1] then states to stop touching him, to which the white male replies, “I thought you said it was cool”. [VICTIM #1] then states, “No, I didn’t tell you that sh*t was cool”. [VICTIM #1] then walks away, and the video ends. [WITNESS #1] watched the video and identified James as the white male in the video. [WITNESS #1] stated that she is familiar with James voice and stated that she is 100% certian that it is him in the video.

James was treated at the hospital and released by Dr. [REDACTED]. James had no injuries from the jump. James had a leg monitor on and was actively on parole. James was transported to the Dougherty County Jail and turned over to jail staff. Prior to entering the jail, my department issued weapon was placed in the truck. Prior to leaving the jail, my backseat was checked for contraband with negative results.

The video of James touching [VICTIM #1] was recovered, placed on a CD and placed into evidence locker #02.

Sgt. Hart responded to the scene and was notified of this incident.

A warrant for sexual battery (Warrant #24-017185) will be issued for James.

This case has been cleared by an arrest.

[End of Narrative]