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Name:
Tharpe, Wendell James, Jr
Date of Booking:
06/26/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Aggravated Assault
Aggravated Stalking
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 03/30/2026, at 2141 hrs., I, Ofc. Holbrook, was dispatched to [100 BLOCK] Lincoln St., in reference to a domestic. Dispatch advised the 9-1-1 call came from a third party, [WITNESS #1]. [WITNESS #1] advised to dispatch he was on the phone with [VICTIM #1] when he overheard her husband, Wendell Tharpe, yelling and using profanity at her before the line disconnected.
Upon arrival I made contact with the female on scene, [VICTIM #1]. [VICTIM #1] advised Wendell had left prior to our arrival. [VICTIM #1] was visibly upset, crying, dishevelled, and had visible marks on her face. [VICTIM #1] advised she frequently has arguments with Wendell about miscellaneous topics.
This date, she advised they were about to sit down to eat when she noticed Wendell use an unusual unlock pattern to unlock his phone. She advised when she confronted him about it, Wendell got extremely angry and began yelling and using profanity towards her. She advised he went outside while she stayed inside and went to the bedroom and called her landlord, [WITNESS #1], on her Ipad. She advised Wendell then entered the bedroom and demanded “half”, implying half of her money that she made by selling items from the residence.
She advised the argument continued, which Wendell grabbed the Ipad from her and began walking away with it. She stated she followed him to try and get the Ipad back, but he turned back around to go back to the bedroom. She advised her purse was in the bedroom and she thought he might be going back to the room to steal her money from her purse. [VICTIM #1] advised she then walked past him in the hallway to get to her purse first, but Wendell grabbed her by her hair and neck and pinned her to the bed.
She advised Wendell choked her while doing so and he was also in possession of a hammer. She advised Wendell raised the hammer up multiple times as if he were going to hit her with it, but instead used it to hit multiple toiletry items. When asked if property was damaged, [VICTIM #1] advised she doesn’t believe so.
[VICTIM #1] had a visible red mark at the corner of her left eye and visible redness around her neck and chest area. I took photos of her injuries and later attached them to this report.
[VICTIM #1] also mentioned he has done this before and is still awaiting court for it. I asked dispatch to verify conditional bonds between [VICTIM #1] and Wendell. [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. The violation date of this offense was 02/09/2026 and the bond was signed on 02/10/2026.
We checked the area for Wendell, but had negative results.
I will be signing warrants on Wendell next available date. [VICTIM #1] was given the case number and advised of how to obtain a copy of this report.
[End of Narrative]
All information is sourced directly from the official, public court database. Case history is organized and curated by The Georgia Gazette staff. The “What this means:” explanations are written by AI and reviewed by our staff before publishing.
Court records are subject to change at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors or omissions. Nothing here is legal advice. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Case History:
6/26/26
WENDELL JAMES THARPE JR. BOOKED INTO CUSTODY
What this means: Wendell James Tharpe Jr. was booked — meaning formally processed into jail — on this date in Houston County. He is facing charges of Aggravated Assault and Aggravated Stalking under case number 2026C0065117 in Houston Superior Court.
7/9/26
PLEAS/BONDS HEARING HELD
What this means: Wendell James Tharpe Jr. appeared in Houston Superior Court for a hearing where the judge could decide whether to release him from jail before trial and whether he wanted to enter a plea to the charges of Aggravated Assault and Aggravated Stalking. No outcome from this hearing is recorded.
7/14/26
COURT APPOINTS PRIVATE DEFENSE ATTORNEY JONATHAN P. WATERS
What this means: Because the Houston County Public Defender’s Office had a conflict of interest — meaning they were unable to represent Wendell James Tharpe Jr. without a legal or ethical problem — Houston Superior Court’s Indigent Defense Coordinator, Savannah Camp, appointed private attorney Jonathan P. Waters of Macon, Georgia to serve as Tharpe’s defense counsel.
7/16/26
BOND DENIED AT PLEAS/BONDS HEARING
What this means: At a second hearing in Houston Superior Court, the judge denied Wendell James Tharpe Jr.’s request to be released from jail before trial. He remains in custody while his case continues. The judge did not set a bond amount that would allow him to pay his way out.