James Coleman

Name:
Coleman, James Leonard

Date of Booking:
10/16/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY – 2ND DEGREE

EXPLOITATION AND INTIMIDATION OF DISABLED ADULTS, ELDER PERSONS, AND RESIDENTS

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.]

[NARRATIVE #1 on October 17, 2025]

On 10/17/2025, I responded to Deaden Timber Road, Tiger, GA, in reference to a reported criminal damage. Upon my arrival, I made contact with [VICTIM #1] and James Coleman. At the conclusion of my investigation, Coleman was arrested and charged with Criminal Damage to Property 2nd Degree and Exploitation of an Elder person.

Initially, I was dispatched to the residence for a 911 hang-up where someone requested law enforcement, but then disconnected the line. While en route, dispatch contacted the caller back, and she stated law enforcement needed to hurry. After the second call, I activated my blue lights and siren and quickly responded to the residence.

Upon my arrival, I made contact with [VICTIM #1], who advised that James Coleman was destroying her house. I immediately noticed that [VICTIM #1] was very intoxicated, had the odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath, and her speech was heavily slurred. [VICTIM #1] advised Coleman was her “yard man” and that he had been drinking. While I was speaking with [VICTIM #1], I observed that the inside of [VICTIM #1]’s house was strewn with broken debris, overturned furniture, and broken glass throughout the living room and kitchen.

While speaking with [VICTIM #1], Coleman walked to the front door and also began speaking. Coleman was also very intoxicated, had the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, and his speech was heavily slurred. Coleman could not answer any of my questions and refused to listen when I asked him to do anything. Coleman would not step away from the residence, nor would he go back into the residence.

I asked [VICTIM #1] to step into the residence, and she complied. Coleman denied that anything had happened in the residence. Coleman would advise that [VICTIM #1] had actually attacked him, but could provide no details as to how the inside of the house had been damaged. Coleman tried to walk back into the residence, and I asked him not to, but he refused to listen. I then had to detain Coleman by placing him in handcuffs to the rear and double-locking them. Deputy Cross then arrived on scene and stood by with Coleman while I spoke with [VICTIM #1].

Due to [VICTIM #1]’s high level of intoxication, she struggled to provide a coherent account of the event. [VICTIM #1] advised Coleman was her friend and “yardman”. [VICTIM #1] advised that Coleman is homeless, and she was trying to help him out by getting him some work. [VICTIM #1] advised that she offered to pay Coleman for cleaning her yard and that she was going to wash his clothes. [VICTIM #1] advised that Coleman is an alcoholic and has a drinking problem.

[VICTIM #1] advised Coleman had been to the Lighthouse to receive treatment for his alcoholism, and she believed he was clean. [VICTIM #1] advised she picked Coleman up and took him to the liquor store so he could buy alcohol for someone else. [VICTIM #1] advised that she then drove him to another house where he was supposed to drop the alcohol off. [VICTIM #1] advised that she brought Coleman to her residence to clean the yard. [VICTIM #1] advised that after Coleman finished, he went to the guest room and, unbeknownst to her, had concealed a bottle of liquor inside the room. [VICTIM #1] advised that she had located the liquor bottle and hid it. [VICTIM #1] advised Coleman, then flew into a rage, looking for the liquor. [VICTIM #1] advised that he destroyed the house, flipping tables, breaking glass, and damaging numerous items. [VICTIM #1] advised that Coleman had threatened to kill her, grabbed her wrist, wrapped his hands around her throat, and choked her. [VICTIM #1] said multiple times that her wrist was broken, but kept refusing medical treatment.

I asked [VICTIM #1] how many alcoholic beverages she had consumed, and she initially said one glass of wine. I asked [VICTIM #1] why she took a recovering alcoholic to the liquor store, and she stated she had made a bad decision. A short time later, I threw away the liquor bottle Coleman was drinking, and [VICTIM #1]’s trash can was full of glass beer bottles. Without being asked, [VICTIM #1] stated that Coleman had brought a 12-pack from the liquor store. [VICTIM #1] stated that she had only had one beer, and Coleman had drunk the other 11. [VICTIM #1] kept repeating herself and changing minor details in the account of the events.

[VICTIM #1] advised that she wanted to press charges for the incident and provided a written statement. [VICTIM #1]’s statement is completely illegible because her handwriting was abysmal due to her level of intoxication.

Coleman stated that [VICTIM #1] attacked him because he wanted to go home. Coleman denied damaging anything in the house but said he would fix it.

I advised Coleman that he was under arrest, and Deputy Cross transported Coleman to jail. I searched Coleman incident to arrest and did not locate any contraband. Coleman had a yellow plastic bag containing some personal items. I searched the bag, but did not locate any contraband. Deputy Cross informed me that after Coleman was transported to the jail, a small amount of suspected marijuana was located inside the yellow bag.

[VICTIM #1] had no visible injuries. [VICTIM #1] stated that her right wrist was broken, but she did not have any red marks or bruising, and she used both of her hands to clean the house. [VICTIM #1] also did not have any bruising or redness around her neck. [VICTIM #1]’s lack of injuries was not consistent with her account of events. [VICTIM #1] refused EMS treatment multiple times. I photographed [VICTIM #1]’s wrist and neck.

The inside of [VICTIM #1]’s house was in complete disarray. The living room table had been broken and flipped. There were decorations on the floor, the dining room table was displaced, several chairs were flipped or damaged, there was broken glass everywhere in the house, a busted jar of tomato sauce on the kitchen island, and liquids spilled all over the house. I photographed the damage inside the home.

[VICTIM #1] and Coleman do not have a family violence relationship.

I will be seeking warrants against Coleman for Criminal Damage to Property 2nd Degree and Exploitation of an Elder Person to be presented before a magistrate on the next available date. If [VICTIM #1] develops any visible injuries, I will seek further warrants against Coleman.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on October 18, 2025]

On 10/18/2025, I presented two warrants (Criminal Damage to Property 2nd Degree and Exploitation of an Elder Person) against James Coleman to Rabun County Magistrate Judge Blalock. Judge Blaylock signed both warrants. The warrants were turned over to the Rabun County Jail.

[End of Narrative]