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Name:
Florence, Darius Antonio
Date of Booking:
08/15/2025
Reason(s) For Booking:
Attempted/Removal of Weapon from Public Official
Battery
Battery
Obstruction of LEO by Use of Threats or Violence (F)
Obstruction of LEO by Use of Threats or Violence (F)
Obstruction of LEO by Use of Threats or Violence (F)
Terroristic Threats and Acts – Intimidation
Attempted/Removal of Weapon from Public Official
Criminal Trespass-Family Violence (m)
Disorderly Conduct Fear of Safety of Life, Limb or Health (M)
Battery
Obstruction of LEO by Use of Threats or Violence (F)
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 08/15/25 at approximately 2202 hours, I, Deputy James Foy #398, did respond to [200 BLOCK] Michael Ct Dallas GA 30157, regarding a disorderly subject inside the residence. While enroute, I as well as other responding deputies were being provided informational updates via Paulding County 911.
The updates were to include that the girlfriend later identified as [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had advised the call takers that the subject was acting in a manner as to scare the occupants of the dwelling and that deputies needed to hurry.
Upon arrival into the area, all deputies parked on the side of the road approximately three houses prior to approach the residence in a more tactical manner. In did observe a silhouette on the front porch that was determined to be a black male later identified as Darius Antonio Florence.
Florence was yelling at the top of his lung’s comments of, “I own this motherfu*ker!”, and numerous other profanities. This could be heard from several residences away. Upon approach, Florence could see us approaching the front of the residence and during the course of still yelling, he ran down the front steps to the residence from the porch.
He ran as if charging myself and Deputy Parks-Lewis but stopped just short of midway in the drive way near the rear end of a parked vehicle. He continued to yell at both deputies and assumed an offensive posture with being hunched over (forward leaning), clinched fists, yelling profanities, and pointing at myself as well as Deputy Parks-Lewis.
I observed Lt Smith take a tactical position behind Florence with his tazer in his right hand and down by his right thigh. Myself and Deputy Parks-Lewis were approximately four feet from Florence as he pointed his right index finger towards my face and we would attempt to step back to gain distance as well as deescalate to no avail.
I instructed Florence to get on his knees at least twice and he failed to comply. He began to step forward towards me at that time Lt Smith deployed a single discharge of his tazer in the back of Florence. Florence continued to charge towards me and I could see that the tazer discharge had little to no effect on as I was attempting to move backwards.
I had my tazer in my right hand and had it pointed at Florence as he ran towards me. I deployed my tazer and struck him with both probes in his upper torso. He began to fall forward but still continue to press his attack by raising his right arm and a clenched right fist. He punched me in the forehead near my left eye.
I wrapped Florence and with both arms and went to my knees as I tried to send him backwards. All deputies present physically engaged Florence in an effort to gain control as he was on the ground and refusing to surrender his hands to be handcuffed. During the ground fight, I still was holding my tazer as I had not had the opportunity to reholster it.
Further during the ground fight, Florence did sweep his left hand over my holstered hand gun in what I interpreted do be an attempt to grab my weapon. Florence also attempted to take Lt Smith’s tazer by grabbing it. Lt smith at that time in an effort to keep Florence from taking his tazer, Lt Smith threw his tazer to keep Florence from gaining control of it.
During the course of the struggle, the tazer that I held was discharged again inadvertently. After several moments, Florence was able to be handcuffed behind his back, checked for proper fit, and double locked to ensure that they did not tighten around his wrist and cause permanent damage.
I then assisted first having Florence sit on the curb so as not to induce positional asphyxiation as he had complained that he could not breath. As myself and Lt Smith were attempting to place Florence at a location to be seated, Florence jumped in the air and backwards as if to escape or launch another assault.
Myself and Lt Smith forced in backwards as he was in the air and forced him backwards causing him to impact the ground with his rear upper torso. We placed our forearms on Florence’s upper chest to regain control and then seated him on the curb as was our intent.
After several moments of evaluating Florence to ensure that he could breath, we placed him in Deputy Forrester’s rear prisoner compartment of his patrol car. He had continued his profanities towards all law enforcement on scene and would not cooperate to be seated in an upright position.
Paulding County Fire Department Engine 3 did respond to provide medical aid. Florence began to use profanities towards fire personnel and refused to allow them to provide any evaluation/treatment. We were able to after several attempts to get Florence to be seated so that he could be seat belted. He was then transported to Paulding County Jail for booking/lodging.
I then began to speak to other parties on scene to include Florence’s fiancé who was identified as [REDACTED]. She advised that he had been drinking throughout the day and that he had grown increasingly agitated through the day.
Photographs were taken of injuries to deputies as well as their uniforms and placed on the Sheriff’s Office I-Drive.
[End of Narrative]