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Name:
Martin, Courtney Elise
Date of Booking:
08/16/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
BATTERY
CRUELTY TO CHILDREN- 3RD DEGREE
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 Saturday, August 16th, 2026, at approximately 23:41 hours, I, Deputy First Class J. Ledford #544 of the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to [REDACTED], in reference to a physical domestic incident. I responded code 1 (non-emergency), along with Deputy J. Parks #531, Corporal Sawyer #546, and Sergeant Humphries #513, due to dispatch advising that it was just verbal at the time, and parties were separated.
Upon our arrival (at approximately 0000 hours), I made contact with the male party (complainant and victim, Identified as [VICTIM #1]), who advised that his wife (Identified as: Courtney Martin), was inside of the residence, and had been physical with him. Mr. [VICTIM #1] did not have a shirt on, and I was able to see that he had a red mark, approximately 2 inches wide, and 4 inches long on his right pectoral.
I then began knocking on the door to the residence (as it was locked), to attempt to make contact with Mrs. Martin, she would not come to the door. Mr. [VICTIM #1] then climbed onto his back deck, and entered the house to open the door for us. With Mr. [VICTIM #1]’s permission, we entered the residence, and I was able to make contact with Mrs. Martin on the second floor of the residence, in her bedroom.
I asked Mrs. Martin what was going on, and she stated she was scared of Mr. [VICTIM #1]. I asked Mrs. Martin if there had been a physical altercation between her and Mr. [VICTIM #1], and she stated that there was no physical altercation. I then asked Mrs. Martin for her name and date of birth, and then went and got the same information from Mr. [VICTIM #1]. During my time speaking with Mrs. Martin, I could smell a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from her person.
I then called Gilmer County Dispatch to run the information, as well find out exactly what the call taker [REDACTED] heard upon receiving the phone call. Mr. [REDACTED] stated that as soon as he answered the phone, he heard Mr. [VICTIM #1] “who was on the verge of crying” begging Mrs. Martin to stop hitting him. He stated that he then heard what sounded like someone slapping Mr. [VICTIM #1] in the background of the call. He stated this is when he advised Mr. [VICTIM #1] to try and get away from Mrs. Martin, but Mr. [VICTIM #1] stated that he had his baby in his arms (identified as: Juvenile #2), his son (Identified as: Juvenile #1) beside him, and he was backed into a corner by Mrs. Martin. A few moments later he managed to get away from Mrs. Martin and go outside of the residence.
I then re-entered the residence, and with Mr. [VICTIM #1]’s permission, I spoke to Juvenile #1, who stated that he was playing video games in his bedroom, and heard the altercation occurring, he stated that Mr. [VICTIM #1] walked into his room, and asked him if he could come be a witness to the altercation, he stated that he advised Mr. [VICTIM #1] that he did not want to get involved. Juvenile #1 stated that approximately 15 minutes later, Mrs. Martin walked into his room and advised him to go into her room, he stated that he believed he observed Mrs. Martin “hit” Mr. [VICTIM #1].
I was then shown a video of the altercation, where I observed Mrs. Martin appear to throw something at Mr. [VICTIM #1], and appear to strike him once (in this particular video I am unsure as to if Mrs. Martin made contact or not, due to the erratic movement of the phone).
I then walked back upstairs, where I placed Mrs. Martin under arrest for Battery (Family Violence), Mrs. Martin was walked downstairs, where I allowed her to say goodbye to her children, and then outside of the residence. Once outside, I placed Mrs. Martin in handcuffs (in front of her person), checked for proper fit, and double locked. I then placed Mrs. Martin in the rear passenger seat of my patrol unit #821 and secured the seatbelt around her person. I provided Mrs. Martin with a bottle of water from inside of her residence.
Mrs. Martin stated that she had marks on her as well, and showed me the palm of her left hand, which was red, and appeared to be from slapping Mr. [VICTIM #1], she had another spot on her left hand that she stated was a bite mark, I observed the “bite” but was unable to determine that it was in fact a bite mark.
In speaking with Mr. [VICTIM #1] one more time, I observed that he had welts on his back right shoulder blade, the right side of his neck, that appeared to be scratch marks.
I then transported Mrs. Martin to the Gilmer County Adult Detention Center, during the transport, she advised me that Mr. [VICTIM #1] had bond conditions which states that he is not allowed to consume alcohol, she stated that he had consumed alcohol this date, it should be noted that during my time speaking with Mr. [VICTIM #1], I did in fact smell alcohol coming from Mr. [VICTIM #1]’s person, however he did not appear to be heavily intoxicated.
To conclude, Mrs. Martin has been charged with the following:
O.C.G.A. 16-5-23.1 – Battery (Family Violence) – due to having multiple marks on his right pectoral, shoulder blade, and on the side of his neck, along with video footage of the altercation, the statement given by Mr. [REDACTED] at Gilmer County Dispatch, and the statements given by both Mr. [VICTIM #1] and Juvenile #1.
O.C.G.A. 16-5-70 – Cruelty To Children in the 3rd Degree – due to Juvenile #1 being able to hear the beginning of the altercation, and also seeing part of the altercation.
Vine pamphlet given, along with victim’s notification form. Audio/Video were recorded on body-worn camera, video taken by Mr. [VICTIM #1] has been submitted with this report.
[End of Narrative]