Matthew Wood

Name:
Wood, Matthew Lawrence

Date of Booking:
07/21/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
CRUELTY TO CHILDREN-(Second Degree) CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE/CAUSES EXCESSIVE PHYSICAL/MENTAL PAIN

Battery – Family Violence (1st Offense) (M)

Criminal Trespass – Damage to Property

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.]

On the above day I responded to [REDACTED] in response to a domestic, when I arrived I spoke to WOOD, MATTHEW L. Matthew shirt was ripped and had multiple scratches across his body. He states that his wife does not do anything around the house so he he began taking things from here that he pays for such as the T.V’s and her phone, I asked Matthew for more detail.

Matthew states that he came home from work and the kids have not been fed which upset him. He took care of the kids then laid down in one of their bed rooms not his and his wife. He then states that His wife [VICTIM #1] then began to enter the room with the children and bother him. This upset him so he decided that he was going to take the things he had paid for. Matthew then states that he took the tv from his bed room and [VICTIM #1] phone. Matthew states that [VICTIM #1] then ripped his shirt and started sketching him after he took her phone. I then spoke to [VICTIM #1].

[VICTIM #1] states that Matthew came home upset. When he went to lay down in the other room she decided to go lay down with him and the children. [VICTIM #1] states that Matthew then began to act crazy. She decided to leave him alone and her and the children went to the parents bed room to separate themselves. This is when Matthew came through the door and ripped a TV from the mounting hardware attached to the wall. [VICTIM #1] states that she was scared for her and her children safety so when he left with the T.V. she closed the bed room door and pushed a dresser in front of it.

A nursery was attached to the bed room, Her and the children entered it pushed a second dresser against that door. Matthew sill got in and took her phone and a physical fight broke out when asked about the scratches on Matthew she states that this is when he received them. [VICTIM #1] did have red marks across her arms chest and neck but no broken skin like Matthew. [VICTIM #1] states when he evidentially left the room she thought about claiming out of the window with her children to escape the home but decided not to. The room is located on the second floor but had roof accesses. [VICTIM #1] then showed me a video she took of the night.

In [VICTIM #1]’s video you see the bedroom and everyone inside. [VICTIM #1] ask Matthew why he tore the T.V out of the wall. Matthew then runs to [VICTIM #2], one of their children, Push his face against the wall with force. and then spank him. I then spoke to [VICTIM #2]

[VICTIM #2] had red swelling on a side of his face and stated that his father caused it. [VICTIM #2] states that dad took moms phone and then got on top of mom and began chocking her. [VICTIM #1] states that she does not think that Matthew choked her and it all happened fast. [VICTIM #2]. also told me that dad was screaming and took the T.Vs out of the walls.

I placed Matthew under arrest checking for fit of handcuffs and double locking them and placed him in my car. I read him Miranda rights to which he stated he understood them and would talk to me. I asked him about the incident with his child from that night. He stated that he whooped him because the child was pushing him around and didn’t think he would have to tell me about it.

I transported Matthew to jail without issue

backseat cleared before and after transport
handcuffs checked to fit and doubled locked
Miranda rights read.

[End of Narrative]