Derek Harrison

Name:
Harrison, Derek Lee

Date of Booking:
07/01/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
CRUELTY TO CHILDREN-CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE/CAUSES EXCESSIVE PHYSICAL/MENTAL PAIN – 2ND 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.]

Initial Contact with Reporting Party

I made contact with the reporting party, the mother of one of the involved juveniles, [WITNESS #1]. She reported that she was driving home when her sister sent her a text message stating that “[REDACTED BY AGENCY] are fighting.” She advised that she initially believed the two were arguing as they normally do, but her sister clarified that the altercation was physical. She stated she increased her speed to arrive at the residence and, upon her arrival, heard screaming and yelling from inside. She stated that her nine-year-old daughter opened the door before she could and that this daughter’s lip was bleeding.

The reporting party identified the two juveniles involved as her daughter, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and her 12-year-old niece, [REDACTED BY AGENCY].

The reporting party advised that, based on what she was told, the altercation began when [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was holding her infant sibling (reported to be approximately six to seven months old) and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] threw or tossed a pillow at [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. She stated her sister (identified as the juveniles’ aunt, Sheila Thrift) told the two to separate, but [REDACTED BY AGENCY] did not want to separate.

She stated that, per the video she viewed, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] began spanking [REDACTED BY AGENCY] in a bedroom, then pulled [REDACTED BY AGENCY] by her legs from the bedroom to the front living room where the two continued arguing. She stated [REDACTED BY AGENCY] threw a chair, after which [REDACTED BY AGENCY] grabbed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] by the hair and repeatedly struck her. She advised the video was approximately three minutes and twenty-three seconds in length. She advised that the male who recorded the video, identified as Derek Harrison, was not at the residence at the time of my contact, as he was reportedly working.

The reporting party stated she wished to proceed with a juvenile complaint form. I advised her that, because [REDACTED BY AGENCY] is 12 years old and the age of culpability in the State of Georgia is 13, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] could not be held criminally liable for this incident. I explained that I would complete a report regardless, and that a juvenile complaint form would be completed at her request and forwarded to the juvenile court system. I provided her with a case card containing my name, badge number, and the case number.

The reporting party inquired whether the adults present could face consequences for not intervening, citing information she found online. I advised her that I would research the applicable statutes and coordinate with my supervisors regarding that question, and that I would recontact her if there was anything further to address.

I sent the reporting party an Axon Evidence (evidence.com) upload link via text message and walked her through the process of uploading photographs of the injuries and the video footage.

Contact at [REDACTED BY AGENCY]

I responded to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and made contact with additional involved parties. I spoke with the aunt, who identified herself as Sheila Thrift. I also collected the information for Derek Harrison. I also made contact with the juvenile suspect, [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. [REDACTED] stated that she had been holding her baby sibling when [REDACTED BY AGENCY] attempted to hit her and the baby with a pillow. She stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] broke something on the ceiling fan and that, after a male juvenile [REDACTED BY AGENCY] reported this, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] became angry.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] began screaming at her and that she told [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to leave the room, but [REDACTED BY AGENCY] refused. She stated that her mother also told [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to leave the room to separate the two. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was screaming and called her “fat,” and that this is what caused her to begin hitting [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. When I asked how many times she struck [REDACTED BY AGENCY] she estimated “probably 15 or more.” [REDACTED BY AGENCY] confirmed there was video of the incident.

Sheila Thrift stated that she was in the kitchen during the altercation and that she removed the infant from the bedroom because [REDACTED BY AGENCY] would not stop screaming. She stated she considered herself a bystander and that she recorded approximately the last 18 seconds of the incident, intending to show the reporting party what was occurring. She stated she did not physically intervene until the end of the incident. She advised that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] is supposed to be in counseling but has not been enrolled.

Evidence

The video provided by both [WITNESS #1] and Sheila shows [REDACTED BY AGENCY] striking [REDACTED BY AGENCY] multiple times as well as dragger her by her hair. The violence between the two juveniles was not stopped and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] struck [REDACTED BY AGENCY] many times, both open and closed fisted, causing a visible injury to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] lip. The video has been uploaded to evidence.com.

Disposition

Based on the information collected, the juvenile suspect committed an offense; however, due to her being below the age of culpability in the State of Georgia, she cannot be held criminally liable. At the request of the reporting party, a juvenile complaint form will be completed and forwarded to the juvenile court system. I will conduct further research regarding the question of the adults’ failure to act and intervene.

I coordinated with the DA’s office who stated the guardians failure to act meets the element for criminal negligence under Cruelty to Children.

Two warrants will be submitted against Sheila Thrift and Derek Harrison for Cruelty to Chidlren in the 2nd Degree for failing to intervene in the child’s altercation which caused [REDACTED BY AGENCY] excessive physical and mental pain.

[End of Narrative]