Robert Rhymes

Name:
Rhymes, Robert Anthony

Date of Booking:
01/26/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Cruelty to Animals

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 1/17/26 at 12:40pm I, Lt. J. Bonnett responded to the Dollar General located at 8266 Villa Rica Hwy at the request of Paulding County Animal Control.

Upon my arrival, I made contact with Paulding Animal Control unit, [REDACTED]. [REDACTED] stated she had been called to the store on the complaints of one of the customers abusing a dog. [REDACTED] explained that she watched the security camera footage of the incident and was alarmed by what she saw.

Dollar General staff allowed me view the camera footage. The camera shows the front parking lot and front entrance in the store. In the footage, at 11:46am, I observed a maroon in color Toyota Rav-4 parked near the front entrance to the store. Beside the vehicle was a black male subject, later identified as Robert Rhymes and a small, light in color dog. The dog is attached to a leash that appears to be attached to a collar.

Rhymes is seen leaving from beside the Toyota and begins to drag the dog across the parking lot and onto the sidewalk outside the front door to the store. He is then observed walking towards the left side of the building and at that time, picks the dog completely up off the ground by its leash. For several seconds, as the he walks around the side of the building, the dog is being held up solely by its neck. Essentially forming a noose that is known to cut off the blood supply to the brain and known to cause severe cervical spine injury and even death.

I spoke with store employee, [WITNESS #1] who stated she walked around and confronted the male about his mistreatment of the dog and she stated that Rhymes told her, “this is my fu*king dog.”

I conducted a Flock camera search of the Toyota and based on the physical characteristics of the vehicle coupled with the location/time of Flock camera hits, I was able to locate the suspect vehicle bearing Ga. plate [REDACTED]. A GCIC check of the vehicle showed a black male named Robert Rhymes as the owner. Knowing store staff had personally spoken to the suspect I presented witness/store employee, [WITNESS #2] with a photograph of Robert and she confirmed that was the male who was mishandling the dog.

I did secure a warrant for Robert for 16-4-12(b)(1) Cruelty to Animals.

On 1/26/26 I was able to make contact with Robert at this residence. I explained the reason for presence and the events that led to a warrant being issued for him. While on scene, I did observe the dog involved in the incident and he appeared to be healthy and unharmed. Robert allowed me into his home as he put the dog away and prepared to leave. The home was clean and well kept. He stated that he, his wife and their daughter all lived at the home. Thus, the decision was made to not have Animal Control take the dog.

Robert was allowed to call his wife and explain what was happening. He was then handcuffed behind his back where I checked the handcuffs for fit and double locked them. He was transported to the jail without incident or complaint of injury and turned over to the jail staff.

[End of Narrative]