Leland Candidate

Name:
Candidate, Leland Tyrone

Date of Booking:
06/06/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

RAPE

KIDNAPPING

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 05/27/2025 at 1249 hours, Deputy Scott Eyth (110) and Deputy Eric Butcher (116) were dispatched to a suspicious situation near the 3600 block of Wrightsboro Road.

As deputies arrived in the area, Deputy Butcher was able to locate [VICTIM #1] (Victim) down a dirt driveway near [3500 BLOCK] Wrightsboro Road. Deputy Eyth arrived at the stated location.

Deputies observed several physical marks on [VICTIM #1]’ face, neck, and arms. A bleeding gash was observed above [VICTIM #1]’s right eye, and a large scratch was observed on the neck area. Lastly, [VICTIM #1] had several marks on both arms, all of which were photographed while on scene at the time of the call. The photos will be uploaded to evidence.com.

[VICTIM #1] stated that she had been attacked and raped earlier in the day at providently 0900 hours.

[VICTIM #1] noted that she and Leland Candidate (Suspect) were in an on-and-off-again relationship. [VICTIM #1] stated that Leland was “caught” and admitted to having sex with other transgender men. [VICTIM #1] noted that she and Leland worked through their issues and that Leland picked her up from an unspecified location in Columbia, South Carolina, so she could once again reside with him at [400 BLOCK] Greene Street in Augusta, Georgia.

On the morning of 05/27/2025 at approximately 0900 hours, [VICTIM #1] stated that when she and Leland woke, she observed a text on Leland’s phone from the Transgender man with whom he had cheated. [VICTIM #1] noted that this started a fight which escalated to be physical when she called Leland a “fa*got”.

[VICTIM #1] stated that Leland then became engaged and attacked her. She noted that Leland placed her in a choke hold and continued to tighten his grip around her neck until she felt close to losing consciousness. As [VICTIM #1] was about to lose consciousness, she was able to bite Leland’s arm/hand, which caused him to release his grip on her neck. [VICTIM #1] continued by stating that Leland then pushed her violently down the stairs. Once at the bottom of the stairs, [VICTIM #1] stated that Leland then dragged her into a room, tore her clothes off, and forced himself onto her. [VICTIM #1] noted that she was screaming and yelling for Leland to stop throughout the encounter but stated that Leland did not stop.

[VICTIM #1] stated that when Leland was done, she took a shower and said that she wanted to notify the police because what happened was not okay. [VICTIM #1] stated that Leland would not allow her to use the phone to call for help. [VICTIM #1] then said she “went along with the day” because she was scared of what Leland would do to her.

At 1249 hours on 05/27/2025, RCSO dispatch received several calls stating that a woman wearing a black shirt was walking and could be seen bleeding and frantically crying. [VICTIM #1] told deputies that while in the passenger seat of Leland’s 2006 gold Nissan Murano (SC Tag# [REDACTED]), Leland again became enraged and struck her several times, [VICTIM #1] continued by stating that Leland grabbed the back of her head and forcibly pushed her forward until her head hit the dashboard of the vehicle. [VICTIM #1] noted that while he was hitting her, he was trying to pull over and struck a curb, causing Leland’s front passenger tire to flatten. [VICTIM #1] stated that when the vehicle came to a stop, Leland opened the door and pushed [VICTIM #1] out. [VICTIM #1] then said she was going to call the police, and Leland stated, “I don’t care” and drove off.

[VICTIM #1] was then able to walk to the location where deputies had located her to use the phone of a stranger to call for help.

Med 17 arrived on the scene at the time of the call and transported [VICTIM #1] to Piedmont Hospital for further evaluation.

Leland’s vehicle could be seen on Flock Camera in Wrightsboro Road and I-520, which matches the timeline given by [VICTIM #1]. In the camera shot, Leland’s vehicle could be seen driving with a spare tire on the front right side.

Having all the information, Deputy Eyth contacted Sgt Amos in CID to report the crime. Sgt. Amos was provided the details and sent investigators to Piedmont Hospital to follow up with [VICTIM #1]. As such, the case and all information were turned over to CID.

The information provided by [VICTIM #1] was captured on BWC and uploaded before the report’s submission.

[End of Narrative]