Name:
Williams, Wendell Alan
Date of Booking:
09/03/2023
Reason(s) For Booking:
Reckless Conduct
Discharge Firearms Near Public Highway
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 September 3, 2023, I responded to 4024 Highway 5 Douglasville, Georgia 30135 (Second Baptist Church) in reference to a report of discharging firearms.
Upon arrival, I met with [WITNESS #1] and his son [REDACTED]. [WITNESS #1] said that he and his son were coming to the area to cut grass and make extra money. [WITNESS #1] said he was going to a family members home and was using the GPS on his cell phone to get there. [WITNESS #1] said he had missed his turn so, he turned on to Shadow Wood Drive. [WITNESS #1] said he drive to the second road on the left, Pine Knotch Drive, and pulled over so, he could look at his GPS.
[WITNESS #1] said a black male wearing gray shorts was in the yard of [6600 BLOCK] Pine Knotch Drive Douglasville, Georgia 30135. [WITNESS #1] said the male approach his vehicle so, he rolled the window down. [WITNESS #1] said the male demanded to know what [WITNESS #1] was doing and told him to get out of there. [WITNESS #1] said the male continued yelling while [WITNESS #1] was trying to figure out where he was at. [WITNESS #1] said the male stated “I got something for you” and walked toward his house.
[WITNESS #1] said he drove down the road and made a u turn. [WITNESS #1] said, while turning around, he heard a single shot of gunfire. [WITNESS #1] said, as he passed the males house, he was standing in the front yard holding a black handgun. [WITNESS #1] said he sped away and went to the church to call 911. [WITNESS #1] did not see where the male shot the firearm and stated the male did not point the gun at them from his knowledge.
I proceeded to [6600 BLOCK] Pine Knotch Drive Douglasville, Georgia 30135. Once at this location, I knocked on the front door and made contact with Wendall Alan Williams. Wendall was wearing gray shorts as described by [WITNESS #1]. Wendall was visibly upset and, asked how he was doing, he said he was “Good now that those men left.”
I asked Wendall about the men and what occurred. Wendall stated that he was outside in his yard close to Shadow Wood Drive. Wendall stated that two males in a black truck pulled up and stopped in the road. Wendall said he confronted the men about being in the road because it was bothering him.
Wendall stated the males threatened to fight him. Wendall said neither of the males exited their vehicle or approached him in any way. Wendall said they argued briefly and he told them to leave. Wendall said the males stated they were not going to leave and he told him that they were.
During this argument Wendall was in his yard and the males were in a truck stopped in the road. Wendall said he went inside and grabbed his firearm, a black Smith and Wesson Bodyguard 380, [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. Wendall said he went outside and fired a warning shot which resulted in the males driving away.
I asked Wendall to demonstrate how he fired his warning shot. Wendall demonstrated that he stood in his driveway near the wooden fence, aimed the firearm into the air angled toward 4028 Highway 5 Douglasville, Georgia 30135 (Douglasville Nurse and Rehabilitation Facility) which is directly behind his home, and fired the warning shot.
Wendall said he did not fire the warning shot toward the ground because he did not want to risk injuring his dogs in the back yard of his home. The location where Wendall said he fired the pistol is approximately 25 yards from the public highway and within view of the public. I asked Wendall why he fired the pistol toward the nursing home. Wendall stated he was a marksman and knew that, even though he did not aim, the bullet would positively strike a tree in his backyard.
I asked Wendall where the firearm was currently at. Wendall said it, along with his identification card, was inside the home. Wendall allowed me to enter the home with him and retrieve his identification card and firearm. Wendall showed be the firearm which had one bullet inside the chamber and one bullet inside the 6 round magazine which was secured in the firearm. The firearm was not stolen and Wendall was not a convicted felon.
I checked the area for the spent casing but, it was not located. Wendall said he believed it went into the backyard with his aggressive dogs. Based on the fact that Wendall’s life was never endangered, he shot a firearm within 50 yards of a public highway, and shot the firearm in the air toward the Douglasville Nursing and Rehabilitation facility, Wendall was placed under arrest.
I transported Wendall to the Douglas County Jail where he was checked and cleared by jail nursing staff. Wendall was turned over to Douglas County Jail Booking staff. I secured warrants for reckless conduct and discharging a firearm near a public highway.
[End of Narrative]