Justin Padgett

Name:
Padgett, Justin Brett

Date of Booking:
05/03/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
BATTERY-FAMILY VIOLENCE (1ST OFFENSE) MISDEMEANOR

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 05/03/2026 I Corporal Martin was contacted by Laurens County 911 via phone in reference to an assault that occurred between Justin Padgett and [VICTIM #1]. Laurens County 911 advised me [VICTIM #1]’s 12 year old son, [REDACTED BY AGENCY], contacted 911 and stated that Justin assaulted [VICTIM #1]. I was further advised that Justin had left the scene in a Ford truck. After speaking with Laurens County 911, Sergeant Mallory and I responded to the scene.

While traveling to the incident location, I observed a Ford truck traveling on Sportsman Club Road. The driver of the truck pulled over when he seen me turn around my vehicle. I exited my patrol car and made contact with Justin, who exited the passenger seat of the truck. Justin stated that he and [VICTIM #1] had been staying at Sportsman’s Club over the weekend. I asked Justin what happened at the incident location and he stated “nothing she was just screaming and hollering” and I asked him why she was doing that and he stated “just drunk”.

Justin advised me that is why he contacted his father to come and give him a ride back to his residence. Justin stated that they both had been drinking since about 1500 hours on 05/02/2026 and he went to sleep inside a camper around 2300 hours and then around 0100 on 05/03/2026, [VICTIM #1] came inside the camper and asked him where some keys to an ATV was located. Justin stated that he told her she didn’t need the keys and she took them anyway’s. Justin stated that he woke up around 0300 hours and [VICTIM #1] wasn’t in the bed.

Justin stated that he exited the camper and started walking around trying to find [VICTIM #1]. Justin stated that he found the ATV parked near some campers but he could not find [VICTIM #1]. Justin stated that he walked over to a fire pit where some people were standing and asked if they had seen [VICTIM #1]. Justin stated that he was told that that she went to bed, so he continued searching for her. Justin stated that [VICTIM #1] called him and stated that she was at the fire pit.

Justin stated that he went to the fire pit and he asked [VICTIM #1] where she had been and she told him the river. Justin stated that she became increasingly upset and she went inside the camper while he started looking for the keys to the ATV. Justin stated that he couldn’t find the keys so he went inside the camper and he asked her again about the keys and she was still upset so he called his father to come and pick him up.

Upon my arrival, I met with [VICTIM #1] who stated that her son, contacted 911. I began speaking with [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that he woke up to Justin and [VICTIM #1] arguing inside the camper. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that he watched Justin strike [VICTIM #1] with a closed fist during the argument. I then separated [VICTIM #1] from [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and began interviewing her.

[VICTIM #1] stated that her and Justin were drinking and they were inside the camper having a conversation. [VICTIM #1] stated that Justin accused her of cheating on him with another male at the campsite. [VICTIM #1] stated that Justin became upset during the conversation and struck her one time with a closed fist on the the arm. [VICTIM #1] stated there has been a history of physical violence between them but she did not want to tell me about it. I asked [VICTIM #1] on a scale of 1 to 10 how hard Justin struck her and she said a 7.

I asked [VICTIM #1] if she had any injuries and she told me she didn’t know and then we both looked at her arm and found two small bruising. The bruises were the size of two knuckles and had spacing between them making it appear consistent with a closed fist strike. [VICTIM #1] then walked me inside the camper and demonstrate how the event occurred.

I then spoke with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] separate from [VICTIM #1]. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and I walked inside the camper where he demonstrated the event. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] described the incident the same as [VICTIM #1].

I left the scene and spoke with Justin again. Justin gave me his statement again but added that he thinks that [VICTIM #1] was cheating on him with another male at the camp sight. Justin stated that he confronted her about this at the fire pit and then she went inside while he was looking for the ATV keys. Justin stated that he could not locate them and he then went inside the camper where [VICTIM #1] was and asked her about the keys again. Justin stated that [VICTIM #1] got upset so he called his father.

Based on the following reasons, I suspected that Justin was the predominant aggressor and had probable cause for an arrest.

Fact and Circumstances:

• The bruising on [VICTIM #1]’s arm was consistent with a closed fist strike.
• [REDACTED BY AGENCY] witnessed and demonstrated how the incident occurred separately from [VICTIM #1].
• Each encounter that occurred between the two subjects I noticed that Justin was always going to [VICTIM #1]’s location. This would be consistent behavior with a predominant aggressor.
• There has been a history of domestic violence between these two parties.
• The victim did not feel comfortable sharing past incidents with me.

Justin was placed under arrest and charged with Battery under the domestic violence act and cruelty to children.

[End of Narrative]