Phillip Bryant

Name:
Bryant, Phillip Jeremy

Date of Booking:
03/18/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
BATTERY – FAMILY VIOLENCE

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT FVA

OBSTRUCTION OF AN OFFICER

POSSESSION OF FIREARM OR KNIFE DURING CERTAIN CRIMES

TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE

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 March 23, 2026]

On the listed date and approximate time, the writer and Officer Terry Palmer responded to Zaxby’s in Clarkesville for a Verbal Domestic Dispute, Habersham Dispatch advised that the subjects would be in a car in the parking lot black in color, unknown make or model.

Prior to arrival, Habersham Dispatch advised that the male subject involved had threatened the female with a knife. The writer activated his emergency lights and siren to respond emergent to the scene. Ofc. Palmer arrived just prior to the writer and had located the vehicle (Black 2009 Acura TL bearing NC temporary tag [REDACTED]) and female (identified as [VICTIM #1]).

[VICTIM #1] essentially stated that her boyfriend, later identified as Phillip Jeremy Bryant, had struck her several times during a verbal argument inside the vehicle while in the parking lot of Zaxby’s. [VICTIM #1] also alleged that Bryant had lunged at her with a black folding knife with blue “accents” (blade open) and had held her against her will inside the car. [VICTIM #1] further stated that Bryant had ran off after he found out that she had asked her friend [REDACTED] to call the police.

Bryant was subsequently found in the bathroom of Wendy’s in Clarkesville. Bryant was given commands at gunpoint to come out of the bathroom with his hands up and get on the ground and he complied. The writer and Ofc. Terry Palmer took custody of Bryant, placing his hands behind his back with handcuffs placed according to proper fit, alignment, and double-locked. Bryant was then placed into a nearby Habersham SO vehicle and transported back to the Zaxby’s parking lot. The writer then placed Bryant into the rear seat of his patrol vehicle.

Several employees of Zaxby’s came outside and alleged that Bryant had thrown something in the trash behind Zaxby’s. Lt. Justin Hicks located a black folding knife with blue “accents” in a trash can near the dumpster. Prior to taking the knife as evidence, Lt. Hicks asked [VICTIM #1] to identify the knife that Bryant allegedly used. [VICTIM #1] essentially described a black folding knife with blue “accents”. The writer then took the knife as evidence and placed it into a sealable evidence bag and sealed the bag and placed it into the writer’s patrol car.

The writer read Bryant his MIRANDA Rights and Bryant acknowledged he understood. Bryant essentially denied ever making physical contact with [VICTIM #1]. Bryant also essentially stated that he did not lunge at [VICTIM #1] with a knife and denied throwing a knife away.

Bryant was subsequently arrested on the listed charges and transported to Habersham Jail without incident. An Intent to Charge Form was filled out by the writer at Habersham Jail. A Victim Notification Form was filled out by Ofc. Palmer. The writer’s back seat check was clear after transport.

The writer swore to warrants for Aggravated Assault, Battery, Obstruction, False Imprisonment, Possession of a Knife During the Commission of a Crime, and Tampering with Evidence on 03/19/2026 at approximately 15:54 hours in front of the Honorable Judge Amy Thomas.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on March 23, 2026]

On the listed date and approximate time, the writer and Officer Terry Palmer responded to Zaxby’s in Clarkesville for a Verbal Domestic Dispute, Habersham Dispatch advised that the subjects would be in a car in the parking lot black in color, unknown make or model.

Prior to arrival, Habersham Dispatch advised that the male subject involved had threatened the female with a knife. The writer activated his emergency lights and siren to respond emergent to the scene. Ofc. Palmer arrived just prior to the writer and had located the vehicle (Black 2009 Acura TL bearing NC temporary tag [REDACTED]) and female (identified as [VICTIM #1]).

[VICTIM #1] essentially stated that her boyfriend, later identified as Phillip Jeremy Bryant, had struck her several times leaving visible marks that resembled finger nails on her right arm and light swelling and redness to her left arm consistent with being grabbed and held forcefully. [VICTIM #1] also had redness on her nose, swelling, and complained of pain when touching her nose (Battery). The injuries stemmed from an argument inside the vehicle while in the parking lot of Zaxby’s.

[VICTIM #1] also alleged that Bryant had lunged at her with a black folding knife with blue “accents” (blade open) (Aggravated Assault) (Possession of a Knife During Commission of a Crime) and had held her against her will and without legal authority inside the car (False Imprisonment). [VICTIM #1] further stated that Bryant had ran off after he found out that she had asked her friend [REDACTED] to call the police, obstructing the writer’s investigation (Obstruction of an Officer).

The writer was then informed that Bryant ran in the direction of Traditions Bank. Bryant was described as a white male wearing white shorts or possibly black sweatpants and had taken his shirt off. The writer went on foot to check the area and did not see Bryant. The writer traveled on foot through the Pinnacle Bank parking lot with no contact.

The writer then walked into the Wendy’s Restaurant and asked if they had seen a white male with no shirt on. The employee essentially stated that the male (Bryant) was in the men’s bathroom. The writer covered the bathroom with his service pistol drawn as Bryant was still presumed to be armed with a knife and requested backup.

Once backup arrived, the writer gave Bryant commands at gunpoint to come out of the bathroom with his hands up and get on the ground, Bryant complied without incident. The writer and Ofc. Terry Palmer took custody of Bryant, placing his hands behind his back with handcuffs placed according to proper fit, alignment, and double locked.

Bryant was patted down for weapons and contraband and none were found. Bryant was then placed into a nearby Habersham SO vehicle and transported back to the Zaxby’s parking lot. The writer patted down Bryant again prior to placing him in the writer’s patrol vehicle, and no weapons or contraband were found. The writer then placed Bryant into the rear seat of his patrol vehicle.

Several employees (witness list attached to report) of Zaxby’s came outside and alleged that Bryant had thrown something in the trash behind Zaxby’s. Lt. Justin Hicks located a black folding knife with blue “accents” in a trash can near the dumpster consistent with the witness’ account of Bryant throwing something away in a trash can (Tampering with Evidence).

Prior to taking the knife as evidence, Lt. Hicks asked [VICTIM #1] to identify the knife that Bryant allegedly used. [VICTIM #1] essentially described a black folding knife with blue “accents”. The writer then took the knife as evidence and placed it into a sealable evidence bag and sealed the bag and placed it into the writer’s patrol car.

The writer read Bryant his MIRANDA Rights and Bryant acknowledged he understood. Bryant essentially denied ever making physical contact with [VICTIM #1]. Bryant also essentially stated that he did not lunge at [VICTIM #1] with a knife and denied throwing a knife away.

Bryant was subsequently arrested on the listed charges and transported to Habersham Jail without incident. An Intent to Charge Form was filled out by the writer at Habersham Jail. A Victim Notification Form was filled out by Ofc. Palmer. The writer’s back seat check was clear after transport.

The writer swore to warrants for Aggravated Assault, Battery, Obstruction, False Imprisonment, Possession of a Knife During the Commission of a Crime, and Tampering with Evidence on 03/19/2026 at approximately 15:54 hours in front of the Honorable Judge Amy Thomas.

[End of Narrative]