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Name:
Lawrence, Justin Fernando
Date of Booking:
06/26/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Aggravated Assault by Strangulation
Battery-Family Violence
False imprisonment-Family 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 06/26/2026, at approximately 1811 hours, I Deputy Amante 1451 responded to [200 BLOCK] Shadow Wood Dr, Douglasville, GA 30134, in regards to a dispute.
Upon arrival, I observed two AT&T employees working at the incident location, one at the electrical pole and the other near the residence, and the suspect, Justin Lawrence, standing by on the driveway. I also observed belongings on the driveway beside a vehicle, later known to be [VICTIM #1]’s belongings. Upon closer approach, one of the AT&T employees advised me that he did not know what happened but did hear a commotion inside the residence.
I spoke with Justin while Deputy Robinson spoke with the victim, [VICTIM #1], inside the residence. Justin advised me that nothing happened and that it was just verbal, then advised that he did not want to speak with law enforcement. The other AT&T employee working closer to the residence advised me that he did hear a verbal argument and that [VICTIM #1] advised him that Justin put his hands on her. Justin then advised me that nothing physical happened. I asked Justin what his relationship to [VICTIM #1] was, and he advised that she was his girlfriend and that they had been living in the residence for over a week.
I then made contact with [VICTIM #1] and observed her crying and shaken up. [VICTIM #1] advised me that she stayed in the house to separate herself from Justin. [VICTIM #1] then advised me that it started as a verbal argument earlier in the day, which prompted her to pack her belongings, leading her to want to leave the residence permanently. I asked [VICTIM #1] what her relationship with Justin was. She advised that he was her boyfriend and that she had been living at the residence for about 3 weeks.
When asked what the argument was about, she advised that Justin was on the phone with his mom and that he was being disrespectful. [VICTIM #1] then advised me that the conversation was about how females do not listen, and she did not want to be with a man who thought like that. When asked if anything physical happened, [VICTIM #1] advised that it was. [VICTIM #1] stated that she was packing her stuff up, and Justin continued asking her what was wrong, and advised Justin to leave her alone.
[VICTIM #1] then advised that she was yelling, and Justin placed his hand over her mouth and told her to shut up because the AT&T employees were outside. Justin then proceeded to get on top of [VICTIM #1] and choke her out. [VICTIM #1] advised me that when Justin was on top of her, she could not move. When asked how Justin choked her, she advised that his right arm was behind her neck and his left forearm was pressed against her throat. [VICTIM #1] advised me that she could not breathe for approximately 25-30 seconds. [VICTIM #1] advised that she grabbed the top of Justin’s hair to get him off her.
I observed [VICTIM #1] describe the action of Justin choking her out with her hands, and advise me that it was hard for her to talk. I then asked [VICTIM #1] how she got the scratch mark on her shoulder. She advised that it was when Justin had placed his hand over her mouth and got on top of her. [VICTIM #1] was advised of the TPO procedures, and she advised me that she was self-evicting from the residence. Both Deputy Robinson and I observed redness on [VICTIM #1]’s neck and a scratch mark on her right shoulder.
[VICTIM #1] advised me that after Justin had choked her, she went into the kitchen while on the phone with her mom, and that Justin pushed her, which prompted her to push a pot on the stove. Justin then fell due to the water on the ground. I observed the pot on the ground, and a photo was taken. [VICTIM #1] was asked if she would write a written statement, and she denied. Justin’s mom advised that she would be taking [VICTIM #1] to her mother’s residence in Cobb County.
I advised Justin to turn around, and I placed handcuffs on, ensured a proper fit, and double locked. Justin then advised me that he wanted to tell his side of the events. I read Justin his Miranda Rights, and he agreed. Justin advised that he did not want to talk and kept arguing with his mother on the phone. I escorted Justin to the front of my patrol vehicle, where a search incident to arrest was conducted. I then escorted Justin to the rear passenger seat of my patrol vehicle. Justin was transported to the Paulding County Jail and turned over to jail staff without incident. Photos would be uploaded with the report.
Warrants were later obtained on Justin Lawrence for Battery (FV), False Imprisonment (FV), and Aggravated Assault by Strangulation (FV).
[End of Narrative]