Written by: E. George
Published March 29, 2024 @ 9:30 PM ET
Warning: The following story contains information regarding physical violence against children.
CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. – On March 11, 2024, Catoosa County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 29-year-old man for forcibly shoving his 14-year-old stepson into a wooden bookshelf and pouring urine all over him. When the deputies arrived at the Rossville residence, they found the boy in the bathroom crying.
He explained that his stepfather became irate when he was not ready to leave for Boy Scouts. The deputies asked if he sustained any injuries during the incident, and the boy lifted his shirt, revealing red marks and scrapes on his back.
They interviewed his stepfather, Austin Ray Fowler, who said the juvenile was not ready, so he got mad and pushed him. They inquired about the urine, and Fowler said he has had problems with the child urinating in Ziploc bags and bottles. During the altercation, Fowler found a bottle of urine in his son’s room and poured it on him.
When the deputies asked about the marks on the victim’s back, Fowler said the boy had “skin compilation and will bruise easily if he walks in a field of hay.” He stated that he does not spank but admitted to shoving him hard and pouring the urine on him.
The deputies spoke to the child’s mother, who said she did not see or hear anything because she was outside. They examined the boy’s bedroom and saw wet spots all over the floor and the bottle on the other side of the room. The boy also had wet spots all over his clothing corroborating his story.
They photographed the scene and arrested and transported Fowler to the Catoosa County Jail, where he faces charges of first-degree child cruelty and battery – family violence. This case is pending in court.
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.]
[NARRATIVE #1 on March 11, 2024]
On the above date and address Deputy Rainwater responded emergency traffic to a domestic possible physical at the moment.
When Deputy Rainwater got to the residence the juvenile was inside he bathroom and crying, Deputy Rainwater spoke to the individual and asked what had happened. The juvenile stated that his dad (offender) pushed him into the window because the juvenile wasn’t ready for boy scouts. When the juvenile showed Deputy Rainwater the location of where the incident occurred, Deputy Rainwater noticed a wooden bookshelf located beside the window. Deputy Rainwater asked the juvenile if he had any injuries to his back. The juveniles back was very red with a scrape mark in the center of the red area.
Deputy Rainwater spoke to the offender and asked his side of the story. The offender stated that the juvenile wasn’t ready for boy scouts and he got mad and pushed the juvenile. After Deputy Kuzma spoke to both juvenile and offender he found out that the offender threw urine on the juvenile. When the offender was asked why he threw the urine on the juvenile by Deputy Rainwater the offender stated that he has had problems in the past with the juvenile urinating in zip lock bags and bottles but never stated why he threw it.
Deputy Rainwater placed the offender in handcuffs, he checked for proper fit and double locked them. Deputy Rainwater searched the offender and the back of his patrol car before placing the offender in the back passenger side. Nothing was found. The offender was transported to the Catoosa County Jail, where he was then turned over to jail staff.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on March 11, 2024]
On Monday March 11th 2024 Deputy Kuzma responded to the listed address in reference to a domestic between a 14 year old kid and his step father that was physical. Deputy Kuzma arrived on scene and met with Deputy Rainwater who was already on scene and had already spoke with the child [VICTIM #1]. Deputy Rainwater said that victim said that Austin [offender] got mad at him because he did not have any of his boyscout things ready and was late. victim then told Deputy Rainwater that Austin pushed him up against the window in is bedroom and his back hit the dresser that was next to the window causing him to have marks on his back. Deputy Rainwater then went and talked to the offender, while Deputy Kuzma went to find if there was a witness.
Deputy Kuzma spoke with two girls that were outside caring for horses and then met with [REDACTED] who is [VICTIM #1] mother. Both girls and [REDACTED] said that she did not see or here anything due to her working out in the pasture. Deputy Rainwater came back over to Deputy Kuzma after talking with the offender. Deputy Rainwater told Deputy Kuzma that he admitted to pushing victim up against the window. Deputies then told [REDACTED] what was going on and why they were there.
Deputy Kuzma went and talked to the offender. The offender said that his son was not ready for boy scouts and was upset when he found a bottle of his pee in his room. The offender then said that he had pushed him and he fell down and then victim called dispatch and then we came out. When asked about the marks on his step sons back the offender said that he was a boy with skin compilation and will bruise easy if he walks in a field of hay. The offender also said that he shoved victim hard, the offender said that he doesn’t spank and decided to shove him hard. Deputy Kuzma asked the offender if he could go inside he house and speak with victim and he said yes. Deputy Kuzma went into the living room where victim was sitting and asked him what had happen.
Victim said that the offender got mad at him because he was going to boy scouts and the thought the thing he needed was not there and it was and he got mad. Victim said that the offender found his coke bottle of his pee in it and poured it all over him, Deputy Kuzma could see that [VICTIM #1] shirt was wet consistent with his story. The victim then said that the offender threw him at the wall. Deputy Kuzma asked [VICTIM #1] to raise his shirt up so he could see the marks on his back. Deputy Kuzma did observe marks on victim’s back consistent with being pushed or shoved hard up against a window or dresser.
The victim also showed Deputy Kuzma his room where this took place at. Deputy Kuzma observed in the door way wet spots all over the floor and saw the coke bottle that had his pee inside of it all the way on the other side of the room. Deputy Kuzma saw the window where victim was thrown up against and saw that the curtains and a metal shelve that was next to it was moved out of place consistent with someone being shoved.
Deputy Kuzma went back to Deputy Rainwater and told him what the victim said and also told him about the room and the pee being thrown on him. Deputy Rainwater placed the offender under arrest and Deputy Kuzma took picture of victim’s back and the room with the pee bottle and will attach them for Deputy Rainwater. Deputies asked the offender if he had poured the pee bottle on the victim and he said yes. The scene was turned over to Deputy Rainwater and Deputy Kuzma went back in service.
[End of Narrative]