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Name:
Butts, Joseph Douglas
Date of Booking:
05/27/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
AFFRAY (FIGHTING)
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 May 14, 2026]
On Thursday, May 14, 2026 I was dispatched to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] in reference to a fight where a person had been stabbed and was laying in the street.
Upon my arrival I observed a black male laying in the middle of Billy Pyle Rd with two older people with him. A male advised the person laying down had been stabbed and that the suspect was still inside the residence. I told the male to keep applying pressure to the victim’s wound before entering the residence with Officer Zenga.
Inside the residence I observed a black male sitting in an armchair covered in blood. I gave the male verbal commands to show me his hands and he complied. Officer Zenga then gave verbal commands to the male to lay on his stomach and put his hands behind his back, he complied with all commands.
I then handcuffed him and searched him for weapons, none were found. I did observe a deep laceration to the pinkie on his right hand. I also saw a child inside the residence sitting on the couch. I asked the child if he was okay and he pulled up his tshirt and exposed his stomach. The child then made a stabbing motion toward his stomach with his arm. At that time the suspect was escorted to the rear of squad car 156.
At that time I asked PFC Taylor to stay with the suspect and read him his Miranda Rights while I checked on the victim, Mr Joseph Butts. The victim was in the care of EMS. They advised me that he was being transported to Floyd Medical Center for treatment. I then spoke with Officer Zenga before he began collecting evidence. While collecting evidence observed a pocket knife on the ground near the steps to the front porch and multiple areas of blood splatter throughout the area. Officer Zenga photographed and collected evidence on scene.
I spoke with the suspect who was identified as Mr Domonique Smith. He confirmed that he had been read his rights and was willing to answer questions at that time. He stated that he had been at the residence with his son and family when his cousin, Mr Joseph Butts, had arrived on scene. Mr Smith advised that Mr Butts had rushed toward him with approximately 7 other people. He stated that his son, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had been standing behind him on the porch. He stated that he was afraid and was attempting to protect his child.
Mr Smith advised that he and Mr Butts had begun physically fighting all throughout the front yard. He stated that he was not sure how his hand had been cut or when Mr Butts had been stabbed. After the fight had ended he stated that both males had made statements that they were no longer upset with each other. Mr Smith stated that as Mr Butts had walked away he had fallen down in the roadway and police had been called at that time. When asked if he had ever shared a residence with the victim Mr Smith stated that he had not. Mr Smith was seen by EMS on scene and transported to Floyd Medical Center for treatment by PFC Taylor.
At that time I spoke with three witnesses to the incident; Mr [WITNESS #1], [WITNESS #2], and [WITNESS #3]. Ms [WITNESS #2] and Ms [WITNESS #3] advised that they had been on the porch getting ready to go to work when Mr Butts had arrived on scene. They stated that Mr Butts and Mr Smith had begun arguing with each other at that time. The females had attempted to step between the men and separate them but they were pushed to the side and a physical fight began. Mr [WITNESS #1] advised that he had not been outside at that time.
All witnesses stated that once the fight had finished both Mr Smith and Mr Butts had been good with each other again. However as Mr Butts had walked away toward the roadway he had lifted his shirt and fainted. At that time they had called 911 and begun to render aid to Mr Butts. Mr [WITNESS #1] advised that the cameras on the property were not working and had not recorded the incident.
I then met with Mr Butts at Floyd Medical Center. Medical staff advised that he had an injury to the back of his head and a stab wound to his left side. I advised him of his Miranda Rights and asked if he was willing to answer questions at that time. He stated that he would. Mr Butts advised that he had gone to the residence to give his mother and aunt a ride to work. He advised that Mr Smith was there at the time he had arrived. He stated that Mr Smith had been talking about his mother and he had attempted to question him about it. At that time a physical altercation had begun.
Mr Butts stated that during the fight he felt Mr Smith grab him by his hair and pull a chunk of it out. Mr Butts informed me that after the fight had ended he and Mr Smith had made up and he had begun to leave the area. Mr Butts stated that as he walked away he felt a wetness on his side and when he pulled his shirt up he saw he was bleeding. He stated that he did not realize he had been stabbed until after the fight had ended. I asked Mr Butts if he had ever shared a residence with Mr Smith and he stated that he had in the past. I photographed his injuries and uploaded the images to evidence.com.
At that time I met with Mr Smith at the Floyd Medical Center. I photographed the injury to his hand and advised him of his charges. Once he was medically cleared from the hospital I transported him to the Floyd County Jail. Mr Smith was booked for aggravated assault FVA, aggravated battery FVA, cruelty to children in the 3rd degree FVA, and affray. Mr Butts was admitted to the hospital for treatment and a warrant for his arrest was later obtained.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on May 14, 2026]
On May 14th, 2026 at approximately 8:55PM, I, OFC T.Zenga#57, responded to a stabbing at [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. Upon arrival, I noticed a male on the ground bleeding and family members were holding pressure on his wounds. I was then advised the suspect was still inside the residence, so myself and another officer went to locate the suspect.
I entered the residence with my departmental issued Glock 17 exhibited due to not knowing if the suspect was still armed with anything. Upon entry, we located the suspect, later identified as Domonique Smith, sitting in the living room. I exhibited my firearm to him and gave verbal commands for him to lay on the ground and place his hands behind his back. The other officer then moved in and handcuffed Smith, double-locking them and checking for fit.
Upon securing the subject, he was searched for any wounds and other weapons he may have. He was then escorted to a marked patrol vehicle while the scene is being secured. I located multiple blood spatter areas, along with the alleged weapon. The victim was placed in the care of EMS and transported to Atrium Floyd for treatment. I then photographed and collected all evidence.
After speaking to family members, I was advised this was a mutual fight between the two family members until Domonique pulled out a knife and stabbed Joseph. Joseph had stated that after the fight, he was leaving until he noticed blood coming from his shirt. He stated he had walked down to the roadway and lifted up his shirt. When he noticed the wound, he collapsed to the ground.
All photographic evidence was entered into AXON. All physical evidence was placed in an evidence locker at the Rome Police Department’s temporary evidence lockers.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #3 on May 14, 2026]
On Thursday May [14th], 2026 I, PFC J Taylor R77, was dispatched to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] in reference to a stabbing.
Upon arrival, I assisted in the ongoing investigation on scene. During this time I was requested by PFC V Oney R27 to transport Domonique Smith, Sr to Floyd Medical in reference to a deep laceration on his right pinky. Prior to this I read Domonique his Miranda Rights due to him being detained in reference to the investigation.
I spoke to Domonique about what had transpired prior to PD’s arrival on scene. Domonique stated that he did not want to harm the subject who attacked him because it was his cousin, Joseph Butts, and that he stabbed him out of “self defense.”
While at the hospital Domonique and I continued our conversation. During this time Domonique stated that the situation started when Joseph’s sister started dating his “girls cousin” which lead to to Joseph and his brother threatening and harassing her. Domonique stated that because of this, he told Joseph to stop and that if not they would fight. Domioique stated that after a few days he thought the situation was handled until Joseph pulled up to the residence with six other subjects ready to fight him tonight.
Domonique stated during this time his son was behind him on the porch and because of this as well as the subject attempting to rush the residence Domonique states that he pulled out his pocket knife and pointed it in their direction to prevent them from advancing on him and his son. Domonique stated that at the sight of the knife one of the subjects ran to one of the cars and retrieved a gun.
Domonique states that his uncle [WITNESS #1], who was inside of the residence prior to the subjects arrival, came out and advised the subject that they needed to leave to which they refused. Domonique stated that a fight ensued and during this time he began swinging the knife before stabbing Joseph who he states was actively attacking him. At the sight of Joseph being stabbed the other subjects ran beck to the cars and left the area.
Domonique stated that one of the vehicle’s was a red passenger car owned by his aunt and the other was a white passenger vehicle that he had never seen before.