Leland Ash

Name:
Ash, Leland Thomas

Date of Booking:
07/08/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
TERRORISTIC THREATS AND ACTS

FALSE IMPRISONMENT

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

Battery (M)

CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY – 2ND DEGREE (Private)

Aggravated Assault

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 July 07, 2025]

On July 7, 2025 (Monday) FTO Young and I, OFC Kimbrough, were dispatched to [SINGLE DIGIT BLOCK] Valley Brook Dr, Rome, GA 30161 in reference to a domestic altercation.

Upon arrival, we located and spoke with the victim/complainant [VICTIM #1]. [VICTIM #1] advised that she had just fled from her residence of [700 BLOCK] Ave A Apt [REDACTED] where she and her boyfriend, Leland Ash, resided. [VICTIM #1] stated that Leland had been drinking heavily all afternoon and she told him to slow down and to drink some water. [VICTIM #1] advised that this angered Leland and he began striking her, throwing objects at her, choking her, threatening her, and damaging the residence. Originally, neighbors apparently called this incident in as a noise complaint and a disturbance. However, initial officers were unable to make contact with anyone at the apartment. [VICTIM #1] advised that this was because Leland blocked the door and threatened her with a knife, saying that “no one is leaving this apartment alive.” [VICTIM #1] advised that eventually, Leland passed out and she fled the residence.

[VICTIM #1] showed us her injuries which consisted of a visible fist print on her left ribs, red strangulation marks on her neck, a large lump on her head from a thrown wooden box, and a bite mark on her arm. [VICTIM #1] advised that all these injuries were caused by Leland. She stated Leland also threatened to get a cable and choke her with it.

[VICTIM #1] also advised that the apartment was destroyed. Leland damaged multiple walls, furniture, and other household items valued in excess of $5,000.00.

PFCs Gibbs, Boyd, and Sgt. Metroka responded to [VICTIM #1]’s apartment while we were speaking with her. They were able to locate and take Leland into custody. See their supplementals for more information. We advised [VICTIM #1] of this and provided her with her victim bill of rights. We also completed a victim notification form. [VICTIM #1]’s injuries were photographed to be attached to this report. We also advised [VICTIM #1] to document her injuries in the following days in case they develop further so we could add them to this report. EMS responded to check [VICTIM #1] but she ultimately refused transport.

We then responded to the Floyd County Jail to complete the booking process for Leland. Leland had a strong smell of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his person. He also had visible bloodied knuckles and scratch marks on the insides of his wrists which suggest defensive wounds caused by [VICTIM #1]. We read Leland his Miranda Rights to ask him questions but he refused. Leland was also verbally aggressive and tumultuous toward various jail staff. Leland was successfully booked for his charges.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on July 07, 2025]

On July 7th, 2025 I, PFC Boyd, responded to [700 BLOCK] Avenue A Apt [REDACTED] in reference to a noise complaint. Upon arrival myself and PFC Gibbs made contact with the residents of apartment [REDACTED] who stated that they could her noises coming from a nearby apartment and what sounded like a female screaming. While I was walking up to the scene, I could her a knocking sound coming from the first floor under apartment [REDACTED].

Myself and PFC Gibbs attempted to make contact at apartment [REDACTED]. I could see a male standing in a doorway with his back to me. Every attempt that we made to get the male to come to the door, failed. At this time, we could not hear anything coming from the apartment and there were no exigent signs apparent. We then left the scene.

A short time later I was dispatched to an additional call at [700 BLOCK] Avenue A Apt [REDACTED]. Dispatch advised a female from this apartment had been involved in a domestic incident. The victim was located at [SINGLE DIGIT BLOCK] Valley Brook Drive. PO Kimbrough and PFC Young responded to this location and stated that they would have felony charges on the male, Leland Ash.

Upon arrival, myself, PFC Gibbs, and SGT Metroka noticed that the door to apartment [REDACTED] was open. SGT Metroka stated that he could see blood on the floor, so we cleared the apartment with firearms drawn to ensure the occupants safety. Once inside, the apartment was in disarray and there was obvious signs of a struggle. We then located a male laying on the bed in the bedroom, appearing to be asleep. SGT Metroka made contact with the male and I assisted with placing the male in handcuffs that were double locked and checked for tightness and escorted him to my patrol vehicle. Once handcuffs were put on, firearms were re-holstered. I then transported Ash to the Floyd County Jail without further incident.

I later made contact with the victim, [VICTIM #1]. I asked her if she could hear us knocking on the door the first time that we responded. She stated that she could, but Ash was standing in the doorway and was wielding a knife and was making her be quite. [VICTIM #1] stated that Ash said something to the affect of, “No one is leaving here alive tonight.”

View other narratives for further info.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #3 on July 07, 2025]

On Monday, July 7th, 2025, at approximately 23:16 hours I, Officer Gibbs, responded to Avenue Apartments located at [700 BLOCK] Ave A in regards to a meet in person. Information given described the complainant hearing subjects yelling and throwing things, progressively getting louder and the banging getting worse.

I first met with [WITNESS #1] in Apartment [REDACTED] who advised the noise was possibly coming from Apartment [REDACTED]. I then met with the subjects in that apartment, [WITNESS #2] and [WITNESS #3], who advised the noise sounded like it was coming from apartment [REDACTED]. It was ultimately discovered the sound was coming from below them.

SGT Metroka, PFC Boyd, and I attempted to make contact at apartment [REDACTED], which was directly below the other apartments. Officer Boyd advised he could see a male subject with his back to the door not responding to our attempts at knocking or announcing ourselves, which provided audio cues, or flashing a light, which also provided a visual cue.

I then made contact with the complainants again who also advised the noise had ceased while we were present. Due to the absence of consent to enter, probable cause for a search warrant, or exigent circumstances; contact was not made.

Later in the same shift dispatch advised of a call from the mother of a subject who was involved in a domestic at this location. See Officer Kimbrough’s narrative for further details.

After being advised by FTO Young that probable cause existed for felony charges on the male, identified as Leland Ash, we again attempted to make contact at the apartment. Upon approach, the door was open and there was noticeable blood on the floor in the apartment. I attempted to call out for Leland to come to the door, who again did not respond.

We then entered and began to clear the residence with our firearms drawn. We located Mr. Ash laying on the bed, who appeared to be asleep and did not open his eyes until SGT Metroka was placing him in handcuffs. Officer Boyd then took custody of Mr. Ash.

I returned to the witnesses to gather further information. [WITNESS #3] and [WITNESS #2] stated they could hear the male voice yelling in vulgar and belligerent manner, and what sounded like things being thrown. [WITNESS #1] stated she could only hear what sounded like things being thrown or knocked over, but that she did not hear voices.

See other narratives for further details.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #4 on July 08, 2025]

On 8 July 2025, I (SGT Metroka) while on duty for the City of Rome Police Department, in uniform, in a marked patrol vehicle, responded to [700 BLOCK] Avenue A, Rome GA 30165 at approximately 12:09 AM to assist with a domestic dispute that FTO Young and OFC Kimbrough were working.

FTO Young and OFC Kimbrough advised that there had been a domestic dispute at apartment #[REDACTED]. Upon arrival, PFC Boyd, Gibbs, and I made our way to apartment [REDACTED] where the alleged aggressor Leland Ash was supposed to be at. As we approached the door to the apartment, we observed the door to be open and could see blood on the floor near the front door. Additionally, the apartment appeared to be in disarray. Given the circumstances and exigent nature of the situation, PFC Boyd, Gibbs, and I then conducted a protective sweep of the apartment.” I then made an announcement of “police” prior to entering the apartment.

I then drew my service weapon and we began to clear the apartment. As we made our way further into the apartment, there were multiple knives plainly visible throughout the main living area. As we made our way to the bedroom area, I observed Ash laying on the left side of the bed. I then called out to Ash and either he did not hear me or chose to ignore us. I then holstered my service weapon and was able to gain control of Ash’s left hand while PFC Gibbs maintained cover. As I gained control of his hand, he woke up and started to pull away. I then rotated Ash onto his stomach and was then able to secure his right hand. I then held Ash’s hands behind his back while PFC Boyd was able to secure him into handcuffs.

At this time, PFC Boyd took Ash to his patrol vehicle to be secured for transport to the Floyd County Jail. PFC Young then advised us via telephone that the other resident/ victim [VICTIM #1] was giving us consent to enter her apartment to photograph it. With consent, I then photographed the apartment and uploaded the photos into Evidence.com. The apartment was in complete disarray with numerous pieces of furniture having been destroyed, holes in the wall, and personal belongings strewn about. While photographing the scene, I located a sledgehammer near where Ash had been found that was consistent with much of the damage observed. FTO Young and OFC Kimbrough were notified of the findings.

[End of Narrative]