Preston Barnhart

Name:
Barnhart, Preston Joseph

Date of Booking:
09/06/2023

Reason(s) For Booking:
BATTERY – FAMILY VIOLENCE (1ST OFFENSE) MISD

CRUELTY TO CHILDREN

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 09/06/2023 at approximately 0035 hours, I was dispatched to [100 BLOCK] Sandy Run Dr Apt [REDACTED] (Ray Futch Apartments) in reference to a domestic, The complainant stated her friend’s husband (Preston Barnhart) beat her up before he left.

Cpl Smith (144), and I arrived in the area of [100 BLOCK] Sandy Run Dr, and I knocked at apartment [REDACTED]. Cpl Smith began to walk between the building when he observed a person’s shadow walk behind apartment [REDACTED]. Cpl Smith and I walked behind the apartment and found a male subject behind a fenced section.

The male stated his name is Preston Barnhart, and he resides at apartment [REDACTED] at [100 BLOCK] Sandy Run Dr. Mr Barnhart stated he and his wife ([VICTIM #1]) got into an argument before he went for a walk. I then asked Mr Barnhart why he ducked behind the fenced section behind [100 BLOCK] Sandy Run Dr Apt [REDACTED] to which he stated he saw flashlights and thought someone was letting out a dog.

While speaking with Mr Barnhart, Cpl Smith went to the incident location and spoke with Mrs [VICTIM #1] who told him that her husband punched her in the face causing a laceration to the inside of her lip.

Mr Barnhart was detained in handcuffs and placed in the back seat of my patrol vehicle while I continued my investigation. While placing Mr Barnhart in my patrol vehicle, I observed fresh blood on the index finger of his right hand. Cpl Smith read Mr Barnhart the Miranda warning, and asked if be would be willing to speak with us in reference to this incident to which he stated he wanted to speak to his lawyer and did not want to speak to us.

I went to [100 BLOCK] Sandy Run Dr Apt [REDACTED] and spoke with Mrs [VICTIM #1] who stated she and her husband were lying in bed when he accused her of deleting messages on her phone. Mr Barnhart then struck her on her left leg with a vape causing a laceration while they were still in bed. Mr Barnhart got out of bed and walked into the living room where Mrs [VICTIM #1] followed him to.

Mrs [VICTIM #1] said they began to argue in the living room when Mr Barnhart pushed her onto the couch and began to choke her with one hand. Mrs [VICTIM #1] said she was able to breathe when he was choking her. Mr Barnhart then got off of her and began to yell again. Mr Barnhart walked back to their bedroom where she followed him in an attempt to calm him down.

Mr Barnhart then punched her in the face causing a laceration on the inside of her bottom lip. Mr Barnhart then pushed her into the children’s room door waking up their four children [REDACTED BY AGENCY] who then began to cry. Mrs [VICTIM #1] stated when she hit the floor, her nose began to bleed. Mr Barnhart began to punch the bedroom door several times before ripping it off the hinges.

Mr Barnhart then grabbed a Smith and Wesson pistol from the bedroom and sat on the coffee table and told Mrs [VICTIM #1]: “Don’t touch me” with the gun pointed at his head. Mr Barnhart began to cry and relaxed his hand causing the gun to point forward away from his head. Mrs [VICTIM #1] then took the gun from Mr Barnhart and unchambered a round by racking the slide back. Mrs [VICTIM #1] stated she and her husband sat on the floor while he was crying, he then got up and walked into the bedroom again.

Mrs [VICTIM #1] stated he came out shortly after and they began to argue again. Mr Barnhart grabbed the gun again and pointed it at his head again before placing it on the floor in front of the couch in the living room. Mrs [VICTIM #1] called a friend named [WITNESS #1] and told her what occurred. Mr Barnhart then left the scene.

I observed Mrs [VICTIM #1]’s injuries and noticed a laceration on her left leg above her kneecap, a laceration on the inside of her bottom lip, as well as fresh blood on her left hand, and swelling below her left eye. Pictures of Mrs [VICTIM #1]’s injuries will be digitally attached to this report. Cpl Smith was able to take pictures of the scene which will also be added to this report.

I spoke with Ms [WITNESS #1] who stated she received a call from Mrs [VICTIM #1] who told her: “my husband beat my a*s” so she came to the residence. Ms [WITNESS #1] stated Mr Barnhart had left prior to her arrival.

Mr Barnhart was placed under arrest for Battery-FVA, and Cruelty to Children in the 3rd degree.

The arrest and transport of the suspect followed department protocol consisting of the suspect being searched, handcuffs being applied, checked for proper fit and double locked. The suspect was placed in the backseat of Scpl Shin’s (113) patrol vehicle and was seat belted in for transport. The vehicle was searched prior to and after transport with no contraband found.

The suspect was released to the custody of the Liberty County detention staff without incident.

[End of Narrative]