Walter Hester

Name:
Hester, Walter

Date of Booking:
05/26/2024

Reason(s) For Booking:
Battery

Cruelty to Children 1st Degree

Cruelty To Children – Allow Child To Witness Felony/Battery/Family Violence – 3rd Degree

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 May 26, at approximately 1542hrs, I was dispatched to domestic violence that had occurred at [200 BLOCK] Griffin Mountain Trail NE. Upon my arrival, I made contact with the 13-year-old victim, [REDACTED BY AGENCY], who advised his grandfather, Walter Hester, had punched him causing bleeding in the nose.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised that he was cleaning his room when his grandfather asked if he and his brother, [REDACTED BY AGENCY], had permission to be on the video game. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] said that his grandmother, Claudette Hester, walked to his room after he had told them that he wasn’t on the game and that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated when he tried to walk away Mrs. Hester would grab him by his shirt to prevent him from leaving, which caused him to start tussling with Mrs. Hester. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised that was when Mr. Hester jumped in and tried to help Mrs. Hester resulting in [REDACTED BY AGENCY] intervening as well.

During the altercation, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that Mr. Hester grabbed him and twisted his neck which caused a mirror inside his room to fall on his head. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] also stated while he was trying to get up, Mr. Walter had punched him in the face causing his nose to bleed. Once [REDACTED BY AGENCY] released himself from his grandparents, he ran out the front door towards the neighbor, [REDACTED], house located at [200 BLOCK] Griffin Mountain Trail NE where he called the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office. I had [REDACTED BY AGENCY] complete a statement form of the incident, as I observed his injuries.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] I would then make my way to [200 BLOCK] Griffin Mountain Trail NE where I made contact with both Mr. and Mrs. Hester with Deputy Adams and Sorrows.

Mr. and Mrs. Hester advised that the incident started because [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was not doing his chores and was playing the game. Mr. Hester stated to deputies that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] has a history of fighting and making terroristic threats at school which caused him to get suspended.

As punishment, Mr. and Mrs. Hester told [REDACTED BY AGENCY] that he could not play his game. Mrs. Hester told deputies that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] started cussing calling her a bi*ch which caused Mrs. Hester into [REDACTED BY AGENCY] room. Mrs. Hester told deputies that he was attempting to run away again, so she tried to restrain him. Mr. and Mrs. Hester stated that was when the altercation started to become physical. I would then ask them how [REDACTED BY AGENCY] received scratches on his neck. Mrs. Hester told me that it was caused by them tussling and said that the scratches possibly came from there.

I would then turn my attention to [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. While making my way to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Mrs. Hester asked why I was talking to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] alone. I advised Mrs. Hester that I was doing an investigation into the incident that had occurred. Mrs. Hester would then make her way into the room with [REDACTED BY AGENCY], preventing me from talking with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] alone, stating that he doesn’t have the right to talk to me. I told Mrs. Hester that you do not have the right to tell him what he can and cannot say while Deputies are investigating domestic violence. Lt. Best would then ask Mrs. Hester to leave the area while I conducted my interview.

While talking with [REDACTED BY AGENCY], I advised him that he doesn’t have to talk to me if he doesn’t want to, and that I just wanted to know what happened. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that he was in his room playing the game when he heard the altercation between [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and Mrs. Hester. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated when he went to check on [REDACTED BY AGENCY], he saw Mrs. Hester on top of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] which caused [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to help. Mr. Hester saw [REDACTED BY AGENCY] intervening, so he intervened as well. When I asked [REDACTED BY AGENCY] about the mirror, he stated that the mirror was about to fall on him, but that Mr. Hester was able to grab it before it could.

I would then ask [REDACTED BY AGENCY] about the bloody nose to which [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] suffered from regular nose bleeds whenever it’s hot. I then asked if he saw a mirror hit the back of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] head to which he stated no. I would then ask if he saw Mr. Hester punch [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. [REDACTED BY AGENCY], which he stated he doesn’t know. I then asked why he ran from the house. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] said he was tired of the fighting between his brother and grandparents and wanted to escape.

I advised [REDACTED BY AGENCY] that he cannot run from his problems and that he cannot allow those emotions to build up because eventually, he will release those emotions towards the wrong person. I told [REDACTED BY AGENCY] that he should talk to a guidance consular at his school or teacher, so he has someone he can talk to whenever he feels like he needs help. After finishing my conversation with [REDACTED BY AGENCY], I would then turn my attention back to Mr. and Mrs. Hester.

While waiting in the hallway, Lt. Best returned from speaking with DFCS and advised Mr. Hester that is placed under arrest. I would then place him in handcuffs, double locked loosely tightened, and walk him to my patrol car where I complete an incident search to arrest for any weapons and contraband and place him in the backseat of my patrol car. Once in the back seat of my patrol car, I read him his Miranda rights. I would then transport him safely to the Rockdale County Jail, where he was turned over to jail staff.

[SECTION REDACTED BY AGENCY]

[End of Narrative]