John Tompkins

Name:
Tompkins, John

Date of Booking:
02/28/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
Tampering with Evidence (F)

False imprisonment-Family Violence (F)

Battery – Intentionally Causes Substantial Physical Harm or Visible Bodily Harm to Another

Kidnapping-Family Violence (F)

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.]

I was informed by dispatch that an active domestic dispute was actively occurring at [200 BLOCK] Ravenwood Lane. Dispatch also informed me that the complainant had her hands bound by electrical tape. Dispatch informed me that the suspect had a firearm, but had put the firearm away. Dispatch informed me that the caller could not get away from the suspect.

Upon arrival, Cpl Cross, badge number 779, approached the front door of [200 BLOCK] Ravenwood Ln. Cpl Cross knocked on the front door and announced “Sheriff’s Office”. I heard a female yelling “Please come in” from inside the residence. I opened the door and noticed that a male, later identified as John Tompkins, was on his hands and knees using a handheld scrub brush, attempting to clean what appeared to be blood off the carpet. I immediately placed John’s hands behind his back and assisted John in standing up. I then placed John in handcuffs. I then informed John that he was being detained, escorted John outside the residence, and placed John in a chair on the front porch. I then entered the residence again and based on my training, knowledge, and experience, noticed several blood stains on the carpet in the living room. I also noticed approximately three rolls of electrical tape, as well as several used pieces of electrical tape in the living room.

I spoke with the victim, [VICTIM #1], who stated the following: She was sleeping on the couch in the living room when was woken up by John striking her in the face. John then used electrical tape and bound her hand behind her back. John then removed the pants that she was wearing so she could not leave the residence. John grabbed a pillow, placed it on her face, covered her nose and mouth, and applied pressure to the pillow. John then sat on her chest asphyxiating her. She informed me that due to John sitting on her chest, she could not breathe or scream, and she thought John was going to kill her. John got off of her. She then informed me that she was sitting on the recliner. When asked how she was moved to the chair, she stated she could not remember. She stood up next to the recliner and John used his head to strike her face repeatedly. While John was headbutting her, he struck her nose causing it to bleed. She believes that John broke her nose. She stated that the entire time that John was striking her, her hands were bound, with electrical tape, behind her back. John also stated multiple times to her that he was going to kill her and then kill himself.

[VICTIM #1] believed that she was bound for approximately one hour. [VICTIM #1] asked John if she could drink water. John initially told her no, but after she explained to John that he could bind her hands in the front, John agreed. John removed the electrical tape from [VICTIM #1]’s hands, placed [VICTIM #1]’s hand in front of her, and reapplied the electrical tape to [VICTIM #1]’s arms. [VICTIM #1] initially told me John physically moved her to the bedroom upstairs. When I asked how she stated that she walked to the bedroom. [VICTIM #1] told me that she was able to drink water from a cup that was in the bedroom. [VICTIM #1] told me that when John was not looking, she was able to bite the tape off of her arms. [VICTIM #1] was able to remove the tape from her arms, take John’s phone, and call 911. She informed dispatch of the situation and waited for Law Enforcement in the living room. [VICTIM #1] told me that John stated, “Your luck I decided not to kill you, I’m just going to kill myself”. I asked when John stated that, and she informed me that she could not remember exactly when John made that statement. I asked [VICTIM #1] if she had consumed any drugs or alcohol recently, and [VICTIM #1] informed me that she had been drinking. Due to [VICTIM #1] being intoxicated the chronological order of events that she stated occurred is unclear at this time. However, I noticed substantial physical evidence around the crime scene that supported [VICTIM #1]’s statements.

Sgt. Dyer, badge number 915, arrived on the scene, and I informed him of the situation. Sgt Dyer called the Criminal Investigation Division (CID), and the Crime Scene Unit (CSU). Sgt Dyer told me that CSU would be processing the crime scene. I informed John that he was under arrest and escorted him to my patrol vehicle. I searched John for weapons or contraband in front of my patrol vehicle. I then checked the handcuffs on John for proper fitting and double-locked the handcuffs. I secured John in the back of my patrol vehicle. I transported John to the Paulding County Detention Center without incident. I transferred custody of John to the Paulding County Jail staff. The crime scene was turned over to CID.

On March 1st, 2025, at approximately 12:41, [VICTIM #1] arrived at the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office. She allowed me to witness her medical discharge paperwork from the Hospital. I witnessed that in the medical discharge paperwork, the doctor stated that [VICTIM #1]’s nose had been minorly fractured and bruised. I gave [VICTIM #1] the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office authorization for release of protected health information paperwork and explained the paperwork. [VICTIM #1] read the paperwork and signed the paperwork.

John committed the offense of O.C.G.A. 16-5-40, Kidnapping, by moving [VICTIM #1] from the living room the the bedroom without lawful authority. John committed the offense O.C.G.A. 16-5-21, Aggravated Assault by Strangulation, by placing a pillow on [VICTIM #1]’s face and sitting on her chest. John applied pressure on the pillow, which was covering her nose and mouth, and [VICTIM #1] stated that she could not breathe and thought that John was going to kill her. John committed the offense of O.C.G.A. 16-5-41, False Imprisonment, by binding [VICTIM #1]’s hands behind her back and not letting her leave the residence. John committed the offense of O.C.G.A. 16-10-94, Tampering with Evidence, by attempting to clean what appeared to be a bloodstain off of the carpet. John committed the offense of O.C.G.A. 16-5-23.1, Battery, by causing physical injury to [VICTIM #1]’s nose and face. I returned to service.

[End of Narrative]