James Duke

Name:
Duke, James Ronald

Date of Booking:
11/05/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
Battery – Intentionally Causes Substantial Physical Harm or Visible Bodily Harm to Another

Aggravated Assault by Strangulation

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 November 5th, 2025 I R/D Deputy D. Cochran #654 SRD at North Paulding High School was notified of an physical altercation between students by administrator the Principal [WITNESS #1] that occurred while on school campus.

Speaking with Mr. [WITNESS #1] he stated the incident had occurred in the wrestling room of the school. Mr. [WITNESS #1] stated the students involved and witnesses were being interviewed as well as obtaining written statements from them. Mr. [WITNESS #1] stated from what he understands at the moment that the incident happened due to someone taking a bite of a biscuit that was not theirs and an altercation occurred between them.

Mr. [WITNESS #1] identified the two students that were involved in the incident as James Duke and [VICTIM #1]. Mr. [WITNESS #1] identified the witnesses to the incident as [WITNESS #2], [WITNESS #3] and [WITNESS #4]. Mr. [WITNESS #1] state James Duke, [WITNESS #2], [WITNESS #3] and [WITNESS #4] were on the wrestling team.

After the interview process was completed Mr. [WITNESS #1] obtained written statements from all subjects and gave a copy of them to me.

The written statement from James Duke reads as follows: So we were in the room, then I was jus wrestling people and I started wrestling [VICTIM #1]. We wrestled jus playing around and then I got him in the front head position and he tapped.

The written statement from [VICTIM #1] reads as follows: I came into wrestling room with some friends who are on the team. I saw that they had Big Un’s and we usually share so I took a bite of a biscuit thinking it was my friends. Then James comes up shouting at me “Did you take a bite of my food?!” I said my bad bro I thought it was someone elses. Then he pushes me up against the wall and grabs my neck. He starts trying to take me to the ground and I’m trying my best to get him off of me.

I kept telling him “stop I’m not gonna fight you.” He continues then behind me choking me till I couldn’t breathe. I’m tapping for Him to let go & he keeps going. I pulled him off, and he started to go around the room throwing someones phone, & getting in others faces. He came back to me and got in my face saying “He’s not gonna do anything he’s a p*ssy.” I told him stop bro back up it’s done.” He then starts pushing on me again and takes me to the ground. I told [WITNESS #3] to get him off and James starts tustling with Him then they stop. And I walk out of the room & call my Dad.

The written statement from [WITNESS #2] reads as follows: [VICTIM #1] Ate a bite of James food without asking and James got really made and started to push on him and choke him then they fell to the ground and [VICTIM #1] was begging him to stop but James didn’t then he push up on me, [WITNESS #3], and [WITNESS #4]. Then When he was pushing me and I asked if he took something and he said it doesn’t matter. He was being very vilent.

The written statement from [WITNESS #3] reads as follows: James Duke got mad at [VICTIM #1] for taking a bite of his food but [VICTIM #1] thought it was someone elses so it was just an accident. Duke started pressing [VICTIM #1] and throwing him on the floor and everyone was telling him to stop but he didn’t. This all happened in the wrestling room while our coach was out. Duke broke his chain and Scratched [VICTIM #1] while he was pushing him to the ground so I tried to break things up and then he was pressing me and saying things to try to instigate a fight. eventually he was fine and calm.

The written statement from [WITNESS #4] reads as follows: James Had food laying out but [VICTIM #1] Heard it was somebody elses and then James started attacking [VICTIM #1] and we told him to get off then He got in my face. [WITNESS #3] and [WITNESS #2] and we all told him to stop multiple times and He picked up [VICTIM #1] and Held him on the ground and we all told him to stop and He was crashing out and frecking out and coach couldn’t see it cause we were setting up so I went to tell coach [REDACTED] and then James got in my face again because He found out I told coach [REDACTED] and then he said he Just wanted to press everyone and was getting mad.

Deputy Stevens was also on scene at the school when I was advised of the incident. While I R/D was obtaining information and statements to the incident, Deputy Stevens took pictures of [VICTIM #1]’s neck area. [VICTIM #1] had a red mark on the left side of his neck/throat area (see photos) from the incident where he was grabbed by James around the neck. To my understanding Deputy Stevens was going to write a supplemental to this report on information she obtained while on scene.

Mr. [WITNESS #1] advised me the mother of [VICTIM #1] was at the school and wanted to speak with me. I R/D went into the front office conference room to speak with a female identifying herself as [REDACTED].

Ms. [REDACTED] was concerned with her son and asked how this works. I R/D advised Ms. [REDACTED] the school would handle the school issues and the Sheriff’s Office would be investigating to see if the law had been broken during the incident and would take the appropriate action if violation of the law had occurred. Ms. [REDACTED] stated she understood and wanted to leave the campus with her son due to what had happened to him.

After speaking with Ms. [REDACTED], Mr. [WITNESS #1] advised that James was in another conference room in the front office. Deputy Stevens and I went to the conference room to speak with James.

Once inside the conference room I R/D asked James if he could tell me what had occurred. James stated he took a bite of my Big Un’s and I was joking, I don’t think he was joking and he got up in my face so I took him to the mats and started wrestling and he taps out. So, he got up and I started pressing him again saying you took my Big Un’s and we started wrestling again.

Deputy Stevens then asked James if he was on top of [VICTIM #1] and he stated once on the mat he was on his side behind [VICTIM #1] but not initially. James stated once [VICTIM #1] tapped out, he let him up and started pressing him again taking him down on the mat again.

During the interview James demonstrated the move he put on [VICTIM #1] going underneath his armpit and grabbing the head pulling both in the opposite direction. James stated he wasn’t choking him just putting him in the hold and he tapped out. I asked James if that was a joke hold and first he stated no, but then stated it could be used that way.

I asked James if [VICTIM #1] was on the wrestling team and he stated no they are all just friends and he has rolled with them a few times. James stated he was only joking around the whole time.

While speaking with James he appeared to be calm wanting to stress the point he was only joking and playing around.

Deputy Stevens, School Safety Officer Caudle and I stepped out of the conference room. Deputy Stevens and I had a brief discussion over the incident. I R/D advised Deputy Stevens I would place handcuffs on James and she advised she would transport him to the jail.

Once back into the conference room I R/D asked James to stand up and place his hands behind his back. James complied with my request and I placed handcuffs on him double locking the cuffs for safety.

After placing James in handcuffs Mr. [WITNESS #1], Deputy Stevens and myself escorted him to Deputy Stevens patrol car without further incident. Once at the patrol car I R/D patted James down to check for weapons or contraband. James complied with all request.

Upon entering the patrol car James asked where am I going and quickly stated never mind, I’m going to jail.

I R/D observed Deputy Stevens leave North Paulding High School with James in the back seat of her patrol car going to the Paulding County Jail reference to book-in.

Later in the day I R/D secured warrants on James Duke for O.C.G.A. 16-5-21(b)(3) Aggravated Assault by strangulation and O.C.G.A. 16-5-23.1(a) Battery(m).

Aggravated Assault by Strangulation warrant #-25-2955.

Battery warrant #-25-2956.

Due to securing warrants on James Duke and he was taken into custody transported to the Paulding County Jail, the status of this case is cleared by arrest.

[End of Narrative]