Written by: E. George
Published March 20, 2024 @ 9:30 PM ET
Warning: The following story contains information regarding physical violence.
BARROW COUNTY, Ga. – Multiple agencies responded to a Winder residence regarding the mental health order of a man who brandished two hammers at his parents and barricaded himself. After hours of attempted negotiations, law enforcement breached Paul Alliechinin Kouassi‘s locked bedroom door, and the suspect struck an officer in the head with a hammer.
Upon arrival, Kouassi’s father explained that his son might be hallucinating and believed he (his father) was the devil. He said he wanted his son transported and evaluated.
An officer noted that the father appeared more concerned for his safety than he verbalized. The officers explained their intended tactics and that they may need to break down the door; the father agreed.
Officers requested additional personnel with tactical gear, ballistic shields, and a Halligan tool. Kouassi ignored their commands to exit the room.
After breaching the door, Kouassi tried hiding in his closet. He held a hammer above his head, and before an officer could protect himself with his shield, the officer’s helmet came off in the struggle, and Kouassi struck him on the top of his head.
The officer was escorted to an ambulance, and EMS determined that he likely suffered a concussion and momentary unconsciousness during the assault. An officer noted after speaking with him, “It was obvious that he suffered a serious injury.”
As Kouassi continued to fight, officers used their body weight, shields, and a Taser to subdue and pin him on the ground. They noticed that he wore sunglasses, gloves, and several articles of clothing wrapped around his head.
An officer noted that it appeared he donned these items in anticipation of possible chemical munitions. Kouassi formerly served in the United States Air Force, and the officer believed the suspect likely possessed some knowledge about chemical munitions and may have been exposed at some point.
The officers explained to him that they were detaining him due to the mental health order and for striking the officer with a hammer. An officer noted that the need for mental health treatment was “obvious;” however, the suspect “was fully in charge of his actions and committed the assault willfully and intentionally.”
They searched him and discovered two sharp kitchen knives in the front pockets of his pants. Officers photographed the scene and submitted the hammers and knives as evidence.
Authorities transported Kouassi to a mental health facility, where he received treatment. Upon his discharge, officers arrested and transported him to the Barrow County Detention Center.
Kouassi faces charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault upon a law enforcement officer, and felony willful obstruction of law enforcement officers. This case is pending in court.
The Winder Police Department, Winder Fire Department, Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, and Hall County Sheriff’s Office were among the agencies involved in this 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 February 14, 2024]
On 02-14-2024 at 1334 hours, Captain Henderson received a phone call from Winder Police Captain Chris Cooper. Captain Cooper advised that Winder Police officers were on a mental health disturbance call at [300 BLOCK] Searchlight Drive, Winder GA. Captain Cooper requested assistance with the eventual transport of the subject, and requested assistance with additional personnel. Captain Henderson notified Colonel Hamm and Sheriff Smith of the request and that he was en route to the location.
Upon arrival at 1403 hours, Captain Henderson began preparations to assist. Winder Police Sgt. Evans showed Captain Henderson a signed Form 1013-Certificate Authorizing Transport to Emergency Receiving Facility & Report of Transportation (Form 1013) executed by Benchmark Mobile Crisis Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) [REDACTED].
The 1013 had the box marked for “Presents a substantial risk of imminent harm to self or others as manifiested by recent overt acts or recent expressed threats of violence which presents a probablility of physical injury to self or to other persons.” Also marked was the box for “This individual appears to be mentally ill. My opinion is based on the following observations: “Within this area, it was written “Ind brandished 2 hammers at his parents today. When CLN tried to speak with him he hit them together and refused to come out of room.”
Next was marked the box for “Has committed/expressed recent overt acts/threats towards others” and “Presents an imminently life endangering crisis to self because he/she is unable to care for his/her own health and safety.” In the For example area, it was written “IND believes his father is the devil. He might be hallucinating. He continues to hold onto the hammers.” The 1013 was signed and dated with the current date and a time of 1:23pm. The 1013 also exhibited the signature of [REDACTED] in the area for Staff at referring facility with the current date and a time of 1:30pm.
Winder Sgt. Evans advised that these signators of the executed 1013 had recently left the area. Examining the document, Captain Henderson reasonably believed it to have been lawfully executed by individuals possessing the authority required by Georgia law. Around this time Colonel Hamm, Lt. Spaulding, Lt. Silcox, and Lt. Norris had arrived.
Captain Henderson, Colonel Hamm, and Lt. Spaulding met with the subject’s father, [WITNESS #1]. Captain Henderson was aware that the personnel aforementioned had made numerous attempts to speak with Paul Kouassi (the offender) for several hours, with no response or positive progress towards resolution. Captain Henderson began to explain the possible options and considerations to the father. The first option was for law enforcement to discontinue our attempts at contact and allow the situation to calm.
The father was adamant that he wanted the offender to be transported and evaluated. It seemed that the father was more concerned for his safety than he was verbalizing. Captain Henderson then explained that deputies would begin with the least intrusive, calmest attempts at resolution. He also explained that if the offender surrendered then he would be taken into custody with no use of force necessary, aside from routine handcuffing.
It was further explained that deputies may eventually be forced to break down a door and that all force reactions were potentialities directly related, and in proportion, to the offender’s actions. The father stated that he fully understood what was explained and continued to be adamant that law enforcement take custody of his son.
Captain Henderson then devised a plan to take Colonel Hamm, Lt. Spaulding, Lt. Silcox, and Lt. Norris into the residence and attempt to have Lt. Spaulding negotiate with the offender for a peaceful resolution. Beginning at approximately 1429 hours Lt. Spaulding and Colonel Hamm called out to the offender from the upstairs hallway adjacent to the offender’s bedroom. From this time to approximately 1514 hours, the offender never acknowledged or responded to the deputies.
Based on the shadow moving across the carpet under the bedroom door, deputies were aware that the offender was moving around his room. The bedroom door knob was locked and required a key to open, unlike common interior residential privacy locks which can easily be unsecured with a small flathead tool. Due to this, and the exhaustive attempts made by Winder Police, Winder FD, Benchmark personnel, and the deputies attempts, the decision was made to breach the door.
Captain Henderson requested a Halligan tool and was provided one. By approximately 1500 hours, Sgt. Bradley, Deputy Ferguson, and Inv. Steven Crowe had arrived on scene. Inv. Crowe had donned his tactical gear with helmet and had a ballistic shield. Sgt. Bradley also had a ballistic shield. A plan was devised to breach the hollow-core door with the Halligan tool bar and hold outside the bedroom.
This occurred and commands were given for the offender to come out. He moved to an area of obscurity near his closet door. Captain Henderson advised Inv. Crowe to slowly step into the room utilizing the shield for safety. Captain Henderson also advised Lt. Silcox to move in with Inv. Crowe and be prepared to utilize his Taser to incapacitate the offender. As Inv. Crowe stepped in, he was heard giving loud verbal commands of “drop the hammers.”
Before Lt. Silcox could maneuver into the tight space, Inv. Crowe observed the offender raise a hammer above his head. With limited options due to the confined space, Inv. Crowe decided to push the shield into the offender with the intent to pin him and deny him the ability to swing his weapons with full force. The offender viciously swung the hammer down in an arc directly towards Inv. Crowe’s head. For some undetermined reason, his helmet became dislodged and the top of his head was exposed.
The metal head of the offender’s hammer struck Inv. Crowe on the top of the head. At this time, Lt. Silcox, Dep. Ferguson, Sgt. Bradley, Lt. Norris, and Captain Henderson had also rushed into the small room. The offender struggled to fight and remain standing. Captain Henderson had previously obtained Deputy Ferguson’s Taser and deployed it in probe mode to the offender’s left hip. The probe spread was minimal due to proximity, so he placed the face of the Taser at a spot lower on the offender’s leg.
This, and the pressure of the other deputies, caused the offender to fall to the ground. He fell onto his chest and attempted to draw his arms and hands under himself. He began yelling and breathing rapidly. His muscle tone was also extremely rigid. It was observed that the offender was wearing sunglasses, gloves, and had several articles of cloth wrapped around his head.
This appeared to have been done in anticipation of his belief that deputies might attempt chemical munitions. The offender formerly was in the US Armed Forces, so he likely has some knowledge and has potentially been exposed to chemical munitions.
Once the offender was subdued on the floor, Captain Henderson advised all personnel to calm and cease all force, aside from holding him down. Deputy Ferguson was in a mounted position utilizing his body weight spread out across the offender’s back. Once Captain Henderson was certain both of the offender’s arms and legs were pinned, he advised Deputy Ferguson to unmount the offender. This occurred in mere seconds.
Captain Henderson used the offender’s name, Paul, and began calmly advising him to surrender. The offender maintained his rigid body position. Captain Henderson and another deputy placed the offender’s hands in handcuffs and took all weigh off his limbs. Captain Henderson extracted the Taser probes while explaining to him what was occurring. The offender made several claims in an upset tone that he was being unlawfully assaulted and that this was occurring because he is black.
Captain Henderson advised him that he was in custody due to a lawfully executed Mental Health order. He was also later advised that he was under arrest for his unlawful assaultive actions. Although suffering from a need for mental health treatment, it was obvious that the offender was fully in charge of his actions and committed the assault willfully and intentionally.
The offender was sat up and then stood up. He was searched incident to arrest and two sharp kitchen type knives were located on his person, one in each front pocket of his pants. These were removed and later placed into evidence, along with the two hammers that had been in his possession.
Captain Henderson took photographs of the room and the damage done to the bedroom door.
The offender was escorted out of the residence and was secured in a patrol vehicle. A Barrow County Sheriff’s Office Transport unit eventually took custody of the offender for transport to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] for observation and initial mental health treatment. Captain Henderson was also advised that he was scheduled to be taken to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] as the first mental health receiving facility.
Captain Henderson asked Lieutenant Norris to accompany him with his body cam recording as he spoke with the offender’s father to provide him information. Captain Henderson provided a brief description of the events and then advised the father that, due to his criminal actions, the offender would be charged with felony offenses, to include Aggravated Assault on a peace officer. Captain Henderson told the father that the offender would be receiving the ordered mental health treatment first, as this was obviously necessary.
He was also advised that criminal warrants would be taken and that the offender would have to answer for his actions eventually. Inv. Crowe had been escorted to an ambulance and Captain Henderson observed that he had a significant bloodly circular impact injury on top of his head.
He was speaking, however it was obvious that he suffered a serious injury. Inv. Crowe opted to be transported to the hospital via a Sheriff’s Office vehicle and this occurred. It was later determined that the hammer strike likely caused a concussion and momentary unconsciousness during the assault, rendering Inv. Crowe temporarily incapacitated.
Captain Henderson completed criminal warrants against Paul Kouassi for the offenses of Aggravated Assault on a peace officer, Aggravated Battery on a peace officer, and felony Obstruction of law enforcement. These were signed by Magistrate Judge Evans.
On February 16th at approximately 1300 hours, Captain Henderson contacted [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to determine where the offender was in custody. He was initially advised Laurelwood, but was then advised he had been transported [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to Captain Henderson was provided contact information for [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Upon a call to the number, Captain Henderson was advised the offender was not at that facility.
It seemed as if the receptionist was attempting to let Captain Henderson know that the offender was with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] but at a different facility. A phone number [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was provided for [REDACTED BY AGENCY] at 2467 Old Cornelia Highway Gainesville GA.
Upon contacting that facility, Captain Henderson advised whom he was and that he was willing to provide a written request for a hold on the offender once his treatment was completed. A receptionist quickly advised that they did not have anyone one there with the name provided and then quickly ended the call.
On February 20th, 2024 at approximately 1030 hours Captain Henderson once again contacted the aformentioned facility. The receptionist advised that the offender was there and advised that they would hold him once treatment was completed. During this call, the receptionist learned that the offender was already in discharge and advised he would available for release any time after 1100 hours.
Captain Henderson advised that he had transport deputies en route and the receptionist agreed to place a hold on him. Captain Henderson contacted the Transport unit and deputies were immediately sent. Captain Henderson also contacted the Hall County Sheriff’s Office for assistance. Hall County Sheriff’s Office dispatched a deputy immediately to take temporary custody of the offender.
At approximately 1113 hours, Captain Henderson received a call from a Hall County supervising deputy that the offender was allowed to leave the facility just prior to their arrival in an Uber. Captain Henderson was later advised that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] arranged the Uber for the offender. It is important to note that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was advised several times that the offender had lawfully issued warrants for Aggravated Assault on a peace officer, Aggravated Battery on a peace officer, and felony obstruction of justice.
On February 20th 2024 at approximately 1312 hours Captain Henderson gathered several assisting deputies and arrived at [300 BLOCK] Searchlight Drive Winder GA for the purpose of serving the arrest warrants. Captain Henderson approached and knocked on the front door. The offender’s father answered and Captain Henderson requested the offender to come outside. He was observed at the top of the split level stairs. He complied and walked onto the front porch.
Captain Henderson advised him that he was under arrest for the aforementioned charges. He complied and was placed into double-locked handcuffs. He was then escorted to Deputy Kinney’s patrol vehicle and was searched incident to arrest. The father was asked if the offender had been provided any medication that he needed to take with him.
The father gathered his recently filled prescriptions. Captain Henderson ordered Deputy Kinney to take custody of the medication while recording on his body cam. This medication was eventually turned over to the Detention Center upon the offender’s intake.
This incident was recorded via several deputies body cameras. A use of force report was completed due to the offender being tased during his arrest.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on February 14, 2024]
On February 14, 2024, at approximately 1456 hours, Lt. Norris requested that the two ballistic shields on shift be on the way to [300 BLOCK] Searchlight Drive about a male that had a singed 1013 had barricaded. Being in possession of the Sheriff’s Office shield, I responded to the call.
Upon arriving on the scene, I grabbed the shield and entered the house at [300 BLOCK] Searchlight Drive. I was met by multiple Deputies in the hallway. I handed the shield over, and I provided lethal cover. Negations have been going on and continued to go on for more minutes. The door was breached open, and I entered the room.
I observed a tall male standing with two hammers in his hand and a homemade face mask around his face. The male was swinging the hammers in the Deputy’s direction and was rammed by the Deputy on the shield. I holster my firearm, grab the male by the back of the head, and assist him on the ground. I then got onto the male until other Deputies could get control of his body.
Once Deputies had controlled the male, I got off the male. The male was then placed into handcuffs and then assisted to his feet. A search of the male’s person found he had two knives. The male was escorted to the back of my patrol vehicle. The male was identified as Paul Kouassi. Paul was turned over to Civil for transportation to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #3 on February 14, 2024]
On February 14, 2024, at approximately 1500 hours, I responded “Code 2” to [300 BLOCK] Searchlight Drive in reference to an agency assist. Prior to my arrival, WPD requested help from the sheriff’s office to secure a subject, later identified as Paul Kouassi, for a signed mental health evaluation. I knew that the incident had been ongoing for approximately 3 hours. Lt. Norris requested that I bring a shield to the residence.
Upon my arrival, I assisted BCSO personnel in attempting to contact the subject by talking to Mr. Kouassi through a locked bedroom door. Captain Henderson advised that he was going to breach the bedroom door to make contact with him.
Once the door was breached, I saw Mr. Kouassi step into the closet. I could not see him once he was in the closet. I asked Mr. Kouassi to come to the door several times, but he refused. Inv. Crowe entered the room and immediately yelled, “Drop the hammer!” I entered the room and saw that Mr. Kouassi was holding a hammer over his head.
It appeared that he was going to strike Inv. Crowe with it. I dropped the shield I was holding and grabbed his arm. During this time, Mr. Kouassi was tased and was assisted to the ground. Once on the ground, I assisted in securing his wrists in handcuffs behind his back.
I noticed that my body-camera was turned off during the initial encounter and immediately turned it back on. I helped escort him to Deputy Ferguson’s patrol vehicle. He was turned over to our Civil personnel and transported to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] for a mental evaluation.
I also collected two hammers and two kitchen knives. Both were secured in evidence.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #4 on February 20, 2024]
On 2/20/2024, at 1324 hours, multiple Barrow County Sheriff’s Office personnel and I responded to [300 BLOCK] Searchlight Drive in reference to a warrant attempt.
Upon arrival, we made contact with Paul Kouassi at the front door. It was advised to Paul that he had active felony warrants out of Barrow County. He was secured into handcuffs behind his back that were checked for proper fit and double locked in safety. The warrants were confirmed as active and valid through dispatch. Paul was searched incident to arrest and secured in the rear seat of my patrol vehicle. Paul’s medication was provided to us by his father to take to the Detention Center.
I transported Paul to the Barrow County Detention Center and turned him over to the Booking Deputies without incident. Prior to and after transport a search of the rear seat of my patrol car was completed, checking for contraband with nothing located.
[End of Narrative]