Jody Wales

Name:
Wales, Jody Thomas

Date of Booking:
03/02/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
Burglary – Forced

Burglary – Forced

Murder with Malice (F)

Murder

Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon

Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon

Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon

Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon

Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon

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 the above date and time, I, Deputy Proffitt 966 was patrolling on Charles Hardy Parkway at Macland Road when an assault with a deadly weapon call came out on the radio at [90 BLOCK] Fox Ridge CT, Dallas GA, 30157. I dispatched myself to the call as I was right down the road and activated my emergency lights and sirens and began heading towards the call. I arrived on scene and then parked my car a few houses away from the reported house, [90 BLOCK] Fox ridge Court, and awaited for an additional unit to arrive to back me up. Deputy Valentine 1307 then arrived moments after myself arriving on scene and I informed him that I was grabbing my long rifle as Paulding had stated that the subject had shot an individual and a dog. Paulding dispatch also stated that there was still shooting however I did not hear any shots upon my arrival on scene.

Once I had secured my rifle Deputy Valentine stated that he was also grabbing his rifle and I told him that I would cover him while he secured his rifle. Deputy Valentine then informed me that he was ready and him and myself began moving towards the direction of [90 BLOCK] Fox Ridge Court. Paulding then notified us over radio that the subject was possibly at [80 BLOCK] Fox Ridge Court which was to my left across the street at the time. Myself and Deputy Valentine then moved across the street and found cover behind some large trees while additional units from both Hiram and Paulding began arriving on scene and moving to the house. I noticed CPL Jones 4711 from Hiram to my left and informed him that I was moving up toward the house. CPL Jones acknowledged my movement and I moved to another position of cover closer to the house. I then informed CPL Jones that I was moving to the front door, and again he acknowledged my movement.

I then went to the door and knocked very loudly on the door and then backed away from the door while announcing my presence. As I backed away from the door I saw an unknown subject approach the door and poke his head to see through the windows at the top of the door frame. I also heard something hit the door hard. I announced to all units around me and to Paulding Dispatch that I had seen a subject at the door. At this point I backed away and sought cover and concealment.

At this time, a female came outside screaming. I yelled for her to show me her hands and she put her hands up immediately. I noticed that there was blood on her right hand. The woman, then yelled that the subject was inside being held down. I then heard another Deputy behind me, later Identified as Deputy Baldwin 1376 say to go in the home. I handed my rifle off to Deputy Parks-Lewis 1241, and then entered the home first with Deputy Baldwin behind me.

Myself and Deputy Baldwin entered the home through the garage and went into a door on the left had side of the garage that led into a small room with what appeared to be a mattress on the right hand side of the room. I heard yelling coming from further inside the home and saw another door in front of me that lead into what appeared to be a living room. Covering the floor was small spots of what appeared to be blood and bits of possibly wood. I called out for where the subject was being held down and heard a reply. Myself and Deputy Baldwin then moved into the living room and found a small staircase to our immediate right.

Just past the top of the stair case, I saw a man laying on top of another man calling for us saying that the man he was holding down, later identified as Jody Wales, was the shooter.

I then moved up the stair case with Deputy Baldwin and then grabbed the left arm the Jody and placed it behind his back and began to cuff the Jody. Once the Jody was cuffed and the handcuffs double locked, I called Paulding Dispatch and informed them that I had one male in custody at 0002 hours according to the call log on the MDT. I then began patting Jody down and found what appeared to be a holster in his jeans. Unable to take the holster off, I cut the holster from his belt and continued patting him down. At this time, several fire personnel came into the residence to work a victim that had been found just around the corner from where Jody was being held down. A couple of minutes went by and with the assistance of Deputy Tymkew 1112, Jody was assisted to his feet and escorted from the premises to the front of my patrol car.

Once in front of my patrol car with Deputy Tymkew, a few Hiram Officers, and myself, I began a thorough pat down of Jody for any further weapons and I did not find any. With no weapons or contraband found on Jody, he was placed into the back of my patrol car.

Several Admin personnel were notified of the incident and responded to the scene at this time. After some time had passed, SGT Martin 1204, informed me to take Jody to the Paulding County Jail at this time. I then notified Paulding Dispatch that I was in route to the Jail with Jody. Once at the Jail, Jody was patted down and strip searched by Jail personnel and then placed in a dry cell. With Jody in the care of the Jail staff, I left the scene.

[End of Narrative]