Benjamin Barrett

Name:
Barrett, Benjamin Scott

Date of Booking:
09/02/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI REFUSAL

POSSESSION OF OPEN ALCOHOL CONTAINER

CRIMINAL TRESPASS

SIMPLE ASSAULT

SIMPLE ASSAULT

SIMPLE ASSAULT

CRUELTY TO CHILDREN FIRST 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 September 02, 2026 I, Deputy L Ivester responded to the area near [REDACTED BY AGENCY], Clarkesville GA 30523. This call for service was in reference to a physical domestic situation. I arrived on scene after SGT Carter and Deputy N Ivester had stopped a vehicle driven by the male suspect identified as Benjamin Barrett on Waters Edge Dr near Audubon Ln.

I arrived on scene and approached SGT Carter and Deputy N Ivester who were in the process of securing one male identified as Benjamin Barrett in handcuffs behind his back. Barrett was searched (after being informed of a possible weapon being used in the domestic situation Case Number: 202624983 that occurred on this same date moments before) and secured in the rear of Deputy N Ivester’s patrol vehicle, while in the suspects presence I noticed the distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his person.

SGT Carter also made me aware of the fact he believed the suspect was intoxicated. SGT Carter conducted a protective sweep of the vehicle and advised he found the weapon mentioned by dispatch and the suspect to be a pellet gun. An open Blue Razz Smash Four Loko Remix 12% ABV 16.9 FL OZ was also located within the vehicle along with two more closed Four Loko Remix’s (1x Dreamsicle, 1x Lucha Lemonade). Based on the items discovered inside the vehicle and the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from Barrett’s person I wished to have the driver conduct standardized field sobriety to ensure he was not under the influence while operating a motor vehicle.

Deputy N Ivester read Barrett his miranda rights which he stated he understood and agreed to answer questions. I asked Barrett to give me his sides of events. He stated he was having a problem with a hospital in Ohio prescribing his medication, he stated he was yelling. He said [REDACTED BY AGENCY] who he suspects to be our caller told him that he was scaring them. He stated that if she said he had a gun he did not have a gun he had a BB gun on him. I questioned him about the details dispatchers provided while en route to the call. He stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was in a room, with a door shut. I questioned Barrett about the presence of an open alcohol container inside S the vehicle. He admitted to consuming alcohol before operating a motor vehicle. I informed him that he smells ATIVE like an alcoholic beverage and he stated he had no intention of leaving the home.

The vehicle was in motion when Deputy N Ivester and SGT Carter made contact with him. Barrett also continued to state that he did not take the van against the will of the victim. However he stated after this that if the victim said he wasn’t allowed to take the van then he cant take the van, and he did it to get away from [REDACTED BY AGENCY] because they all said they were scared of him. I returned to the front of the vehicle to inform Deputy N Ivester and SGT Carter of my line of questioning. Deputy Dorsey and Deputy Rabern along with SGT Carter at a later point went to the victims home and began gathering information from the victim while I conducted Standardized Field Sobriety.

I returned to the vehicle to capture a photo of the open alcohol container and closed alcohol containers along with a bottle of medication (Prozac). I confirmed the medication with Deputy Askey K9 Deputy. The closed containers of alcohol were cold to the touch indicating the open container that was empty was cold to the touch recently.

I returned to the vehicle and asked Barrett if he was willing to conduct standardized field sobriety which he agreed to conduct. I had Barrett step out of the vehicle and removed him from handcuffs. I began my medical clearance at this point. Please see Case Number: 202625086 for detail pertaining to the DUI portion of this investigation.

Upon completion of standardized field sobriety evaluations I made the decision to arrest Benjamin Barrett for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Refusal and Open Container Violations. Deputy N Ivester transported Benjamin Barrett to the Habersham County Detention Facility without incident where he was turned over to detention staff on duty along with his property at my request.

I then spoke with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] who SGT Carter had brought to the scene in his patrol vehicle to retrieve her van from the location of the arrest. SGT Carter made me aware that Benjamin broke a glass screen door at the home located at [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Dr, Clarkesville GA 30523. Deputy Rabern took a photo of this damage to the home which will be attached to this report. I asked if the gun the subject had inside the vehicle was used in commission of any crime today. SGT Carter also made me aware that Benjamin had permission to drive the vehicle. I asked if Benjamin made any threats to harm her she stated no. I asked if Benjamin placed his hands on her at any point she stated no. I asked if Benjamin placed her in fear of receiving bodily injury at any point, and clarified this does not just mean threats, it also includes someones actions can place you in fear of receiving injury.

She stated he had been screaming and yelling which resulted in [REDACTED BY AGENCY] (who is currently bedridden in casts on both legs) in sufficient fear to lock themselves in a room to separate themselves from Benjamin (Simple Assault FVA). [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised Benjamin was very angry/upset he was unable to get his Suboxon, resulting in this domestic situation. This is when she advised Benjamin turned on his daughter [REDACTED BY AGENCY] who was attempting to calm him down. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised that Benjamin does not live in the home permanently and is just visiting the home. She advised he has lived her for approximately 5-6 weeks. She advised she is attempting to help Benjamin find a place to live. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] also advised that Benjamin got angry and began screaming about how they took his children. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] is the grandmother of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] who has custody of the children.

I again asked [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to describe what specific actions that Benjamin was doing that placed her in fear of receiving a violent injury. She stated “kicking things, throwing things, screaming, kicking at the door, slamming stuff, throwing chairs”. I asked if they had any video of the incident. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and SGT Carter made me aware that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was able to get a voice recording of the incident. This recording will be attached to this report. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was provided with a Family Violence Packet by SGT Carter at this point and explained how to obtain a Temporary Protection Order. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] also advised that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] is highly traumatized by the situation, and overheard Benjamin confront [REDACTED BY AGENCY] screaming at her and advised Benjamin broke the door to her room. This is when [REDACTED BY AGENCY] came and got [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and secured herself, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] in a room and locked the door to call 911. We relocated to the home a short while later to continue this investigation.

SGT Carter, Deputy Dorsey, Deputy Rabern, and I continued the investigation at [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Dr, Clarkesville GA 30523. Upon arrival we spoke about possible charges. When we entered the home Deputy Dorsey brought my attention to the broken screen door which Benjamin broke during this domestic situation (Criminal Trespass FVA). I entered the home and spoke with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] who informed me that she began hearing her father Benjamin in the kitchen screaming and cursing. She then said that Benjamin ran into his sisters room which was unoccupied and slammed the door and she could hear him throwing things and screaming and breaking stuff. She said she got up and her grandma came to the door and told her to go comfort her sister [REDACTED BY AGENCY] who was crying in her room on the other side of the home due to Benjamin’s behavior.

After comforting her sister [REDACTED BY AGENCY] returned to her room. This is when Benjamin came to her door to apologize for his behavior, and when [REDACTED BY AGENCY] said to him that he was scaring [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Benjamin again got angry. She stated Benjamin walked [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to room and apologized to her. When he walked back to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] side of the home Benjamin kicked the door to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] room open. I did not observe damage to the frame of the door at this point.

I asked if this incident emotionally disturbed her and upset her she said yes (Cruelty to Children First Degree). I asked Ava if at any point was she placed in fear her father would violently hurt her, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] clearly stated yes. (Simple Assault FVA).

I then moved to the other side of the home to speak with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] who was bed bound due to surgery as stated before. When I asked [REDACTED BY AGENCY] how she was feeling she advised that she is just tired and a bit shaken up from everything that occurred. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised that she was sitting there because she is unable to walk, she heard Benjamin begin yelling about his medicine.

She then said she could hear loud crashes and booms coming from her room on the other side of the home where her dad is staying. She said her father banged on her sister [REDACTED BY AGENCY]s door possibly kicked it in and called her a “really mean name”. She said [REDACTED BY AGENCY] then came in with her sister and locked the door to call the cops. Benjamin then came to the door and began yelling. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was able to capture a voice recording of the incident which was emailed to Deputy Rabern. This voice recording will be attached to this report.

I asked [REDACTED] if she at any point during this incident was placed in fear of receiving a violent injury. She stated she was afraid Benjamin was going to snap and put his hands on her. I confirmed that by Benjamins actions it made her afraid he would hurt her. She clearly stated yeah.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] completed written witness statements on scene which will be attached to this report.

[End of Narrative]