Benjamin Mitchell

Name:
Mitchell, Benjamin Leonard

Date of Booking:
02/28/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
DISORDERLY CONDUCT

WILLFUL OBSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS – 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.]

On March 1, 2025, at approximately 11:55 hours while on uniform patrol I was dispatched to [600 BLOCK] Town Park Dr. West #1010 for a report of a domestic situation with a male and female arguing. While en-route dispatch updated the call stating that several callers were stating the altercation was becoming physical with pushing and shoving. I turned on my lights and sirens and went code to the location.

When I arrived I found a white car parked out front of apartment [REDACTED]. There was a black female outside of the car, and a black male sitting in the front passenger seat with the door half open.

Both parties seemed extremely upset and were using raised voices. I asked the female what was going on. She said she was just trying to leave. The male was yelling at us from the car. I asked the female to go stand by my vehicle, which she did. I went to the male and he stated he would not speak with me and had nothing to say. I asked the male for his information and he provided the name [REDACTED]. I then went back to the female to get her information and a statement.

As I was trying to identify the female the male kept yelling at us from the car, saying how she was the cause of everything and it was her fault the police were there. I asked the male to stop talking while I was trying to speak with her as he was escalating the situation. The male said he would not and got out of the car quickly. I told the male to sit back down. He said he wouldn’t and moved in a quick motion like he was coming around the vehicle. Due to his speed, heaviness and deliberateness of his motion, along with a raised voice and defiance of a lawful order, I took the males action as aggressive and feared a physical escalation. At that time I heard Sgt. Estes state he was on scene but I did not see him or his vehicle. I went quickly to the male as he exited the car and pulled my taser and painted him with the lasers. I told the male to get on the ground or he would be tased. The male complied after the second order but continued to yell and scream at me.

I then ordered the male to place his hands behind his back which he did continuing to be verbally non-compliant. I placed my knee on the males thigh as he was laying face down on the ground. I then went to place him in handcuffs and he moved his arms to his side. I gave a loud verbal command to place his arms behind his back again. He did so. I secured his right wrist in a cuff. I went to place his left wrist in a cuff and the male stated he has an issue to his wrist. while holding his left wrist I told him to rotate it so it would not hurt. He rotated it and I went to apply the cuff. He continued to scream and yell at me. He then yelled that it was his other wrist that was already cuffed that had the issue. He then began rolling back and forth. Due to his verbal non-compliance, rolling motion, and trying to move his arms to his side I determined for safety I need to secure the left cuff before loosening the right. I secured the left cuff and the male began yelling even more saying he was going to sue me. I began trying to adjust the right cuff but the male kept moving and I struggled to get it unlocked. Once unlocked I rotated the males wrist and made sure that they were lose but secure. I rolled the male to his side and sat him up. He no longer continued to scream or yell or indicate that his wrist was in pain and acted normal beside being angry at me for detaining him. I looked around and saw that there were lots of people who had come outside and were watching what was going on.

I went and ran the males information through GCIC / NCIC, nothing came back. I had Central run it also and nothing came back. I went to speak with the female but she said she would not speak with me and was mad about the male being in handcuffs. She did reluctantly provide her identifying information. I ran her information also through GCIC / NCIC and nothing came back. I had Central run it and again nothing. While in my car I had Cpl. Gallagher go and speak with the male and female to see if he could get better information as they did not want to interact with me. Officer Gallagher tried to talk to the male but he would not communicate with him. He talked to the female and I do not know what happened but he detained her in handcuffs.

I went back the male and we helped him to his feet to secure him in a vehicle. He asked to check on his infant son who was in the back of the vehicle. I said yes. The male cracked the door and stood where I could not see. I opened the door a little more and the male began telling me not to touch his property. At this point I took the male to my vehicle after checking and seeing the child was okay. The male resisted the walk by stiffening his walk and I had to push and pull him some to get him to move. I secured him in the back of my vehicle.

Officer Gallagher took the female out of handcuffs and stated she provided her information as [WITNESS #1], and she had also provided the name of Benjamin Mitchell. I ran these names through GCIC / NCIC and they both came back neither had wants or warrants. I went to Mitchell and asked if that information was correct. If he verified the information and it was true I would not charge him for False Information. Mitchell stated that is his information.

By this time [WITNESS #1] had calmed down and we explained to her why what happened did and she said she understood.

I placed Mitchell under arrest for Disorderly Conduct O.C.G.A. 16-11-39, and Obstruction of an Officer 16-10-24 (a). [WITNESS #1] asked if he could say goodbye to the baby and I said yes. I rolled down the window and she brought the baby over. Mitchell began yelling at Sgt. Estes asking why he was looking at him. At this time the window was rolled up and I transported Mitchell to Effingham County Jail without incident. Mitchell was given a subpoena for May, 9, 2025 at 13:30 hours.

[End of Narrative]