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Name:
Burnette, Manuel Leon
Date of Booking:
09/15/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Battery
Simple Battery-Family Violence
Disorderly Conduct
Willful Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers-misd
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 09/15/2026 at 17:19 I responded to [700 BLOCK] North Pass to assist other units with a disturbance.
I arrived on scene behind CPL Smith, and ahead of Deputy Dodd and Deputy Powers. A young man met us in the yard and told us a man named Leon, who he said was intoxicated, had pushed him, so he pushed him back. He said Leon then came inside and put his hands on several people. I asked what he meant by “put his hands on”. He gestured that Leon was punching people. He said Leon was in the shed behind the home.
We went to the shed. I knocked on the side of the shed, announced I was with Sheriff’s Office, and told Leon to come to the door. Leon quickly walked out with his hands behind his head. He emitted a very noticeable odor of an alcoholic beverage. I told him he did not have to stand that way, but he said he was going to. I asked Leon why we were here, and he did not give a straight answer. He finally mentioned something about it was because he was mad. I asked why he was mad and he said he wasn’t. I pointed out that he said he was. I asked if anyone had put hands on anyone. He denied this and after a moment went to quickly walk back inside. CPL Smith and I told him to stop, but he continued. CPL Smith put his arm out to stop him from walking, but he attempted to walk through it. He went to place him in handcuffs. He tensed up and resisted as we placed him in handcuffs.
We then walked him to CPL Smith’s patrol vehicle. He began resisting as the other Deputies were attempting to put him in the vehicle. He said he wanted to speak to a superior officer. I told him I was the Sergeant and told him to get in the vehicle. He continued resisting and said he wanted to speak to my superior officer. I told the other Deputies to move. I then placed Leon in the backseat of the patrol vehicle. He continued sticking his legs out of the door. Deputy Powers went to the other side of the vehicle and assisted me with getting him in the vehicle. I then shut the door.
We then went to the porch and CPL Smith spoke to the other people on scene. I advised him to take pictures of any injuries. After he concluded speaking to them, we left the scene. I followed Deputy Smith to the jail due to the Leon’s behavior. Upon arrival at the jail, Leon was turned over to jail staff. We remained at the jail until Leon had been changed out and placed in a cell in booking. Leon continued being argumentative with jailers while we were there.
[End of Narrative]