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Written by: E. George
Published January 19, 2023 @ 7:00 AM ET
Warning: The following story contains information regarding domestic violence and strong language which may be unsuitable for some audiences. Discretion is advised.
Camden County (January 4, 2023) – Officers responded to a residential alarm at a home in Kingsland to discover evidence of a disturbance, a blood-smeared hammer, and two conflicting stories. Blood spatter on a dog door revealed whose account was accurate.
After prolonged attempts of knocking and announcing their presence, Melissa Sherwood, the resident, and sounder of the alarm, finally opened the front door wearing nothing but a blanket. She appeared distressed and frantic, breathing heavily and crying. The officers saw several overturned items inside, including a Christmas tree and casino-style slot machine, broken glass and change scattered across the floor, and a camera to a security system that had been knocked off the wall.
Police observed more disrupted household items and an Apple Crown Liquor bottle as they entered the den area. Sherwood put on clothes and began to explain why she activated her alarm. She stated that her ex-boyfriend, the victim, used to live there and had come over to help her move furniture. She had kicked him out in May of 2022 but allowed him to stay with her from time to time.
It quickly became apparent that Sherwood was heavily intoxicated from alcohol and possibly medications as well. She could not complete her witness statement without assistance from a friend, and the process took over three hours. She continuously searched through old journals to help her complete the form and stated that she and the victim began arguing after a few drinks.
She claimed he refused to leave and began wildly swinging through the home, knocking over items and causing damage. She said that he exited through the front door and tried to get back in, but she stopped him. She stated that he circled to the backyard and attempted to crawl through the dog door, at which point she began hitting him with a door-stopper pole.
Sherwood said that she set off her alarm after he hit her on the head with a hammer. She added that he started tearing off her clothes before leaving the residence. When asked about the security footage, she stated that the victim had taken the memory card. EMS evaluated her at the scene and reported no head injuries and that her only wound was a minor laceration above her left ankle. She refused transportation to the hospital.
The victim was evaluated and treated at Camden Medical Center for a significant blunt laceration on his left cheek that required stitches and another minor laceration near his eye. He said he had gone to Sherwood’s to help her move furniture; however, after a few drinks of alcohol, she accused him of being with another woman and began arguing with him, striking him with a cell phone and thermos.
He stated that she told him to get out, so he started packing a bag, but she approached him from behind and hit him on his left cheek with the hammer. He said she left the room, returned with a door-stopper pole, and proceeded to hit all the items in the room until she turned her attention to him, striking his back with it when he tried to leave.
He explained that he had thrown the hammer and exited the home but realized he did not have his keys. He said that she slammed the door in his face, so he tried crawling through the dog door, where she said, “I got you now you no good sorry rat f*cker,” activated her alarm, and started ripping off her clothes. The victim recalled her saying, “I’ll make you a perv,” and threatening to ruin the rest of his life.
He further explained that he did not hit her and only placed his hands defensively on her chest to push her away, adding that they could refer to the security camera footage to verify his account.
The officers were able to observe most of the incident on the video and discovered that Sherwood was the initiator and attacker and that she had removed her own clothing. Police found that her small wound was inconsistent with her story and the victim’s injuries matched his account. The evidence caught on camera, and the blood spatter on the dog door proved that she had attacked him before he left the residence and not after crawling back in like she claimed.
Sherwood was not arrested at the time of the call because her intoxicated state worsened, and her behavior became more erratic. The officers returned to her residence the following day and arrested her in the driveway for aggravated assault, simple battery-family violence, and false statements and writings, concealment of facts. She was transported to Camden County Jail without incident.
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 January 04, 2023]
On the above stated date and time I was dispatched to the above stated address in the city of Kingsland, in reference to a residential alarm with a female screaming for help.
Upon my arrival we could hear a female yelling inside the residence. After several attempts of knocking on the door and announcing our presence a female opened the front door wearing only a blanket with no clothing on underneath. The female, later identified as Melissa Sherwood, was in an obvious emotionally distressed state, crying, heavy breathing, and appeared very frantic. I began to clear the residence with assisting officers to make sure the scene was safe.
I observed in the entry of the home, immediately past the front door, broken glass, and quarters/change scattered across the floor. I observed what appeared to be a casino style slot machine on it’s side, on the ground, with the machine opened up, appearing to have been put on the ground using some degree of force. I continued into the living room where I observed a Christmas tree pushed over on the ground, with other miscellaneous items and Christmas ornaments scattered around the floor, evident that a disturbance or physical altercation had taken place.
I observed on the south west side of the home, a den area, where multiple miscellaneous house hold items again were scattered around the area to include a bottle of Apple Crown Liquor. On the north west side of the residence in a spare room, I observed more miscellaneous scattered items with broken glass outside of the door way into the room, I further observed a camera system/recorder that appeared to have been knocked off of its original resting place, a wall mount.
Squad was notified and Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene to evaluate Sherwood, due to Sherwood advising she was hit in the head with a hammer. I observed the hammer on the floor in the south west den, slightly in view, underneath a shelf. I observed the hammer to have what appeared to be blood stains on the top portion of the hammer. The hammer was collected as evidence. EMS stated the only injury Sherwood had was a minor laceration above her left ankle, and did not observe any injury on her head. Sherwood refused transportation to the hospital.
Sherwood, now clothed, stated her ex boyfriend, later identified as [VICTIM #1], had come over to the residence to help her pick up furniture from another residence. Sherwood continued to state to me that [VICTIM #1] used to live with her, but she had kicked him out in May of 2022. Sherwood further stated she did not like to see anyone homeless, and would let [VICTIM #1] stay with her off and on, and let him stay with her over Christmas to assist with taking care of her dog.
Sherwood stated when [VICTIM #1] arrived they sat in the den of the residence, and had a drink. Sherwood further stated that she had caught [VICTIM #1] in a lie, this resulted in an argument where she began to tell [VICTIM #1] to leave. Sherwood advised [VICTIM #1] refused to leave and began swinging wildly through the residence, knocking over items and causing the damage around the residence. Sherwood stated that [VICTIM #1] was angry and looking for his thermos and could not find it, she continued to tell him to leave, and he went out the front door.
Sherwood stated [VICTIM #1] immediately came back to the residence and she would not allow him inside. Sherwood further stated [VICTIM #1] went into the backyard and began to crawl into the home using the dog door. Sherwood stated that she began to hit [VICTIM #1] with a Brinks brand door stopper, a long pole. Sherwood advised when [VICTIM #1] came into the home, that at some course during the disturbance, [VICTIM #1] struck her in the top left portion of her head with the above referenced hammer. Sherwood stated that she went and activated her alarm, and that [VICTIM #1] began to tear her clothes off, and left the residence in a burgundy colored Nissan Pathfinder.
Upon observing the recording equipment in the residence, Sherwood advised [VICTIM #1] removed the memory card from the recording system, this is also in Sherwood’s written statement. Sherwood advised all of the physical altercations took place after [VICTIM #1] crawled through the dog door.
I observed the dog door to have what appeared to be a blood splatter, this was collected for evidence.
I then made contact with Sherwood’s neighbor, identified as [WITNESS #1], who stated she received a missed call from Sherwood and immediately called her back, that she could hear crying and sobbing over the phone and that Sherwood stated to her that [VICTIM #1] tried to kill her.
We then received word via dispatch that Camden Medical Center, after being advised by assisting officers, had [VICTIM #1] at their location, 2000 Dan Proctor Dr, St. Mary’s GA. Upon our arrival to Camden Medical Center, I met with [VICTIM #1], who I observed to have significant blunt laceration and swelling on his left cheek, that required stitches, and directly near his eye another small laceration. After being medically evaluated and cleared, I read [VICTIM #1] his Miranda Rights, to which he advised he understood and wished to speak with us.
[VICTIM #1] stated he went to Sherwood’s residence to help move furniture, and that the two began to drink crown royal, an alcoholic beverage, in the south west den of the home. [VICTIM #1] stated that Sherwood began to accuse him of being with another woman, and an argument began. [VICTIM #1] stated that Sherwood struck him with a cell phone, which caused him to drop his thermos, to which Sherwood picked it up and struck him with it.
[VICTIM #1] stated he left and went to the north west room of the home, he calls “the smoke room” because she told him to “get the f*ck out of her house.” [VICTIM #1] stated he began to place his belongings in a bag where she proceeded to come from behind him with a hammer and struck him in the face on his left side cheek. [VICTIM #1] continued to state she left the room and arrived back with the door stop bar and began to hit and strike all of the property inside of the room. [VICTIM #1] stated he tried to leave and she began to strike him in the back with the bar.
[VICTIM #1] pulled his shirt up, but I did not observe any bruising to his back side. [VICTIM #1] continued to state that he took the hammer and tossed it across the home, unsure of where. [VICTIM #1] stated he left the residence, but did not have his keys. [VICTIM #1] stated he tried to come back inside to get his keys but Sherwood slammed the door in his face and locked it. [VICTIM #1] stated he then went through the dog door in the backyard and retrieved his keys, where he continued to advise that Sherwood stated to him “I got you now you no good sorry rat f*cker” and activated the home alarm.
[VICTIM #1] further stated that when he left the smoke room Sherwood stated to him that she was going to ruin the rest of his life, and began to tear her clothes off and stated to him “I’ll make you a perv”, [VICTIM #1] stated he then left the residence. I asked [VICTIM #1] if he ever struck or hit Sherwood, to which he stated that at one point he placed both his hands on her chest and pushed her back in order to defend himself. [VICTIM #1] advised that the camera system in the home should have captured the entirety of the incident. When asked about the slot machine, [VICTIM #1] stated Sherwood kicked the machine over.
According to Sherwood all of the physical events took place after [VICTIM #1] already went inside of the dog door, but blood splatter on the dog door, shows that [VICTIM #1] was already bleeding before making entry using the dog door, showing consistency with his story.
Due to [VICTIM #1] statement being consistent with the injuries he received and the evidence found on scene, and conflicting statements from both parties, [VICTIM #1] was free to leave with his sister, identified as [REDACTED], who advised [VICTIM #1] would be staying with her at her residence. [REDACTED] stated that [VICTIM #1] Nissan was parked at a residence on Taft street, near MLK.
I then arrived at the residence on Taft and observed [VICTIM #1] vehicle at the last residence on the left side of the street, a 2002 Maroon Nissan Pathfinder bearing a Georgia plate: [REDACTEDD], I did not observe any recording equipment or hard drives in plain view.
We then returned to the original call location, and retrieved a signed witness statement from Sherwood. I began to look at the recording equipment, and by completing a power reset, was able to obtain some footage of the incident. I observed Sherwood appear to be swinging her arms in a manner that looked as if she was striking [VICTIM #1] out of frame. I then observed Sherwood remove her pants and expose her self. Sherwood is then seen on the ground, grabbing and pulling at [VICTIM #1] ankles, as he steps over her to the shelf on the side of the room and appear to grab something and leave, with Sherwood still on the ground. The footage ends here.
As we are preparing to leave the residence, [WITNESS #1] advises to me that she has found a silver Christmas decoration with what appeared to be a blood droplet on it. This was collected for evidence. This object was found on the side table that is relevant to where [VICTIM #1] moved to when he stepped over Sherwood in the camera footage, indicating that he was bleeding when this happened on camera. It should be noted that a hard drive was found inside of the recording system, but no external drive was observed.
Sherwood was also unable to complete her witness statement without assistance, from a friend of [WITNESS #1], identified as [REDACTED]. Sherwood also proceeded to take over three hours to complete her witness statement because she continuously searched through old journals in order to assist her in completing her statement. Sherwood’s witness statement is not consistent with the physical evidence obtained on scene, and conflicts with [VICTIM #1] statement.
Sherwood states she was struck in the head with a hammer, that emergency medical services nor myself observed, Sherwood further stated that [VICTIM #1] removed the memory card from the security “so there wouldn’t be evidence of domestic violence/damage to my personal property/break in”, which was not truthful due to the hard drive still being inside of the recording system and video footage being recovered.
It should be noted that the blood splatter on the dog door was consistent with the statement [VICTIM #1] gave to us, that he was struck by the hammer and then crawled through the dog door.
It should also be noted that during the time we spoke with Sherwood she was heavily intoxicated, it is unknown if this was due to her mixing medications with alcohol, as admitted to us and emergency medical services, but as the night continued her behavior became more erratic.
Witness statements were collected from [WITNESS #1], [VICTIM #1], and Sherwood. All evidence obtained was logged as evidence and dropped off at Kingsland Police Department.
Sherwood was not placed under arrest due to the fact that the investigation began at 19:52 hours, and came to a close at a 03:25 hours, and due to the fact that Sherwood continued further into an intoxicated state.
Photos and video will be attached with this report.
Warrants will be sought out for Sherwood.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on January 05, 2023]
On 01/05/2023 at approximately 19:58 hours, I made contact with Judge Lewis in reference to the above stated case in regards to three warrants. I swore for all three warrants and Judge Lewis signed off on the three warrants; Warrant # 23-35FW for Aggravated Assault, Warrant # 23-36MW for Battery Family Violence, and Warrant #23-37FW for False Statements.
I proceeded to print copies of all warrants and advise dispatch that I would be attempting to conduct a warrant service (Case # 2023-00000395) at [300 BLOCK] Lake Forest Dr. Myself and assisting officers arrived, I made contact with Sherwood, who I advised to come out side and speak with me.
As Sherwood stepped into the driveway, I advised Sherwood of the warrants for her arrest, and instructed her to place her hands behind her back where she was then placed into double locked handcuffs. Sherwood, having difficulty with her hands not lining up behind her back, I then proceeded to transition and handcuff Sherwood from the front that way she would be in no pain or discomfort.
Before placing Sherwood into the rear seat of my patrol unit, I conducted a check of the backseat to make sure no property belonging to Sherwood or any other person was in the backseat. Officer Owens conducted a search of Sherwood prior to Sherwood being placed into the rear of my patrol unit. I then advised dispatch of our beginning mileage, and Sherwood was then transported to Camden County Jail, along with her necessary medications, license, and spare clothing.
An Arrest and Booking form was completed. Sherwood was turned over to CCSO staff without incident.
[End of Narrative]
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