Tiara Mahoney

Name:
Mahoney, Tiara Lashay

Date of Booking:
03/29/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
HIT AND RUN/ LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT

RECKLESS DRIVING

HIT AND RUN/ LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT

OBSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER (MISD)

POSSESSION OF FIREARM OR KNIFE DURING CRIM

Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer

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 March 29, 2026]

On Sunday, March 29, 2026, at approximately 1050 hours, I, Sergeant Kenneth McKenzie, responded to 3258 Wrightsboro Road, Augusta, Georgia 30909 (Family Dollar), in reference to a robbery.

Upon arrival, I made contact with the store’s assistant manager, [WITNESS #1]. [WITNESS #1] stated that at approximately 1045 hours, he, along with employees [WITNESS #2] and [WITNESS #3], were inside the store when an unknown Black male entered. [WITNESS #1] advised that he greeted the subject, at which time the subject produced a silver handgun and stated, “This is a robbery.” [WITNESS #1] stated that he, [WITNESS #2], and [WITNESS #3] immediately ran toward the rear of the store.

[WITNESS #1] further stated that the suspect went behind the front counter and removed the cash drawer, which contained an undisclosed amount of currency, from beneath the register. The suspect then exited the store and fled in the direction of Sibley Road.

I then made contact with [WITNESS #4], who was working security across the street at 1725 Sibley Road (Grace Fellowship of Augusta). [WITNESS #4] stated that at approximately 1045 hours, he observed an unknown Black male crossing Sibley Road toward the Family Dollar. He described the subject as wearing a gray hoodie, gray pants, and black gloves, and estimated him to be approximately 5’8″ tall and weighing approximately 160 pounds.

[WITNESS #4] stated that a short time later, he observed the same individual running from the Family Dollar carrying an unknown item. He noted that he could hear a rattling sound coming from the item. [WITNESS #4] further stated that he observed the subject enter the passenger side of a blue Mitsubishi Outlander bearing a South Carolina license plate, which was parked in the lot at 1725 Sibley Road. The vehicle then departed the area traveling toward Gordon Highway.

I also spoke with [WITNESS #5], a customer inside the store. [WITNESS #5] stated that at approximately 1045 hours, she was entering the business when an unknown Black male abruptly exited, nearly knocking her over. She stated the subject had an item slung over his shoulder and that she could hear what sounded like loose change moving inside.

At approximately 1117 hours, Deputy Hannah Gay and Deputy Joshua Johnson located a blue Mitsubishi Outlander (SC Tag: [REDACTED]) traveling on Gordon Highway near Old Savannah Road. The vehicle was stopped at Gordon Highway and Doug Barnard Parkway. The passenger, later identified as Tracy Barnes, exited the vehicle. Despite multiple verbal commands from Deputy Gay to return to the vehicle, Barnes refused and instructed the driver to flee. The driver then fled the scene in the vehicle, and Barnes fled on foot.

Deputy Gay and Deputy Johnson pursued Barnes on foot, while Deputy Tiffany Justice and Corporal Cheillada pursued the fleeing vehicle.

Deputy Joshua Williams arrived on scene and located Barnes near a vacant building behind 906 Molly Pond Road (Gordon Inn and Suites). Deputy Williams attempted to take Barnes into custody; however, Barnes resisted and attempted to flee. Deputy Williams deployed his taser, striking Barnes in the back, after which Barnes was taken into custody without further incident.

Deputy Justice and Corporal Cheillada pursued the Mitsubishi Outlander along Gordon Highway, Doug Barnard Parkway, and Lumpkin Road, where the vehicle struck two fences at 2027 Lumpkin Road (Augusta Parks and Recreation). The vehicle continued onto Bulldog Way, Harold Road, and Coleman Avenue before striking a parked vehicle in the 2700 block of Smith Drive (see Crash Report 26-066903).

The driver then exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Corporal Cheillada pursued the driver and successfully took her into custody. The driver was identified as Tiara Mahoney.

Deputy Justice observed a silver handgun in plain view beneath the driver’s seat of the Mitsubishi. She also observed the stolen cash drawer in plain view on the rear seat.

Investigator Mark Pettite responded to the scene. The Mitsubishi Outlander and its contents were towed by C & A Towing to 400 Walton Way (Richmond County Sheriff’s Office) for processing. Deputy Justice transported Mahoney to the Criminal Investigative Division at 400 Walton Way.

Investigators Brittany Jones and Dakota Clark responded to 3258 Wrightsboro Road, and the investigation at that location was turned over to them.

Deputy Gay and Deputy Johnson transported Barnes to Wellstar MCG Hospital, where he was treated and released. Barnes was then transported to the Criminal Investigative Division at 400 Walton Way and turned over to Investigator Clark.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on March 29, 2026]

On 03/29/2026 at approximately 10:50 AM, I, Corporal Kevin Cheillada (C21), responded to a tone-out for an armed robbery at Family Dollar, located at 3258 Wrightsboro Road.

While en route, dispatch advised that the suspect vehicle, described as a blue 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander bearing South Carolina tag [REDACTED], had fled the scene heading toward Gordon Highway. While other units responded to the location, I proceeded toward Gordon Highway in an attempt to locate the suspect vehicle.

Deputy Hannah Gay (205) located the suspect vehicle and conducted a traffic stop at Gordon Highway and Doug Barnard Parkway at approximately 11:17 AM. While en route to Deputy Gay’s location, I observed a black male exit the passenger side of the vehicle and enter the roadway, appearing to attempt to jump in front of my patrol vehicle, as the suspect vehicle fled from the traffic stop.

I maneuvered around the male, later identified as Tracy Barnes, and continued in pursuit of the suspect vehicle. Tracy Barnes was later located after emerging from the swamp on the 900 block of Molly Pond Road. Tracy Barnes fled from Deputy Joshua Williams on foot and continued resisting arrest after ignoring commands to stop, causing Deputy Williams to deploy his taser. Tracy Barnes was then taken into custody.

The suspect vehicle fled on Gordon Highway and turned onto Doug Barnard Parkway, with myself and Deputy Tiffany Justice (209) in pursuit. Speeds reached approximately 97 MPH in a posted 45 MPH zone. The vehicle continued onto Lumpkin Road, refusing to stop, and then turned into Richmond County Parks and Recreation, where it crashed through a fence into a business parking lot. The vehicle continued to the rear of the lot, crashed through a second fence, and entered Bulldog Way.

Due to debris from the damaged fence, Deputy Justice was unable to continue, and I remained in pursuit. The suspect vehicle turned onto Harold Road, then onto Coleman Avenue, and then onto Smith Drive. While on Smith Drive, the vehicle slowed and ultimately crashed into a parked vehicle.

The driver, later identified as Tiara Mahoney, exited the vehicle and fled on foot down Smith Drive. I exited my patrol vehicle and pursued Mahoney on foot, issuing verbal commands for her to stop. Mahoney continued fleeing toward the wooded area at the end of Smith Drive. As she entered the wooded area, she fell down a small embankment. I held Mahoney at gunpoint and continued issuing verbal commands until additional deputies arrived on scene and took Mahoney into custody.

While securing the vehicle, Deputy Justice observed a silver firearm located under the driver’s seat and a cash box from the incident location in plain view in the backseat.

Criminal Investigation Division (CID) responded to the scene.

A Criminal History for Tracy Barnes was obtained, and Investigators observed he was a Convicted Felon. Investigators observed Tracy Barnes was Convicted on 05/25/1989 through the Augusta Judicial Circuit for the Charge of Purchase/Possession of a Controlled Substance in violation of O.C.G.A. 16-13-30 (a). Tiara Mahoney was not observed to be a Convicted Felon.

Mahoney was transported to CID at 400 Walton Way for further investigation.

Warrants were applied for on today’s date.

[End of Narrative]