William Thomas

Name:
Thomas, William Walter

Date of Booking:
03/06/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
KIDNAPPING

FALSE IMPRISONMENT

OBSTRUCTING, HINDERING PERSON F/MAKING EMERGENCY CALL

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

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 March 2nd, 2025, at 1603 hours, I, Deputy Michael Rowe, responded to Piedmont Hospital, located at 1350 Walton Way, regarding an assault.

Upon arrival, I made contact with [VICTIM #1], who reported that she had been assaulted by her boyfriend, William Thomas, the previous night.

[VICTIM #1] stated that she and Thomas lived in a tent at [2700 BLOCK] Deans Bridge Rd and had been together for the past four months. She mentioned they had a minor argument earlier in the day and expressed concern because he had physically assaulted her in the past. To escape the situation, [VICTIM #1] left and went to her friend [WITNESS #1]’s tent.

While at her friend’s tent, Thomas approached and insisted that she leave with him. [VICTIM #1] expressed that she did not want to go with him and asked [WITNESS #1] to walk her to the roadway because Thomas was being verbally aggressive. As she started to walk away, Thomas continued to tell her that she was not going anywhere. At that moment, she asked [WITNESS #1] to call the police. [WITNESS #1] called and handed the phone to [VICTIM #1], who was speaking with the 911 operator when Thomas snatched the phone from her and hung it up.

Angry about her calling 911, Thomas began hitting her with a closed fist in the face and wherever else he could. He then dragged her back to their tent, insisting she was not going anywhere. Despite her attempts to fight back, he was too strong, continuing to push her down while hitting and kicking her. [VICTIM #1] reported that Thomas then wrapped his hands around her neck and choked her until she lost consciousness. When she regained consciousness, he forced her to leave the area and go nearby to the old CarMax location. While there, she attempted to escape again, but he choked her once more, causing her to lose consciousness again.

Upon waking, she experienced shaking and stiffness in her body, as if she were having a seizure. At this point, Thomas picked up a rock and threatened her, saying she better not scream or he would bash her head in with it.

[VICTIM #1] could see police lights through the trees, but Thomas warned her not to say anything. She waited until he fell asleep around 0600 hours before fleeing the tent. She then went to her family’s residence, where she ate and slept. Later, her family insisted that she go to the hospital, and she was subsequently transported there.

[VICTIM #1] expressed her desire to press charges against Thomas, stating that she was scared for her life. She had scratches all over her body (on her neck, arms, chest, and legs), as well as a large laceration and swelling around her left eye.

Deputies were able to locate the 911 call from the night before under case number 25-041915. That call was made at 0017 hours on that date, stating that a male named William was assaulting a female.

Sgt. McKenzie was notified, and the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) was informed. CID Investigator Boughman was advised and arrived to take over the case.

[End of Narrative]