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Name:
Smith, Roy Ernest
Date of Booking:
08/30/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Aggravated Assault
Terroristic Threats And Acts
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 August 30, 2026, at 1826 hours, Deputy C. Lowe #228 responded in non-emergency mode to [900 BLOCK] Teamon Rd in reference to terroristic threats.
Upon entering the driveway, Deputy Lowe activated his body worn camera. While driving down the drive way, he observed a male wearing overalls sitting behind a large tree. Deputy Lowe stopped before driving in front of the residence to make contact with the male sitting behind the tree.
The male stood up and waved for Deputy Lowe and other responding units to pull down. Deputy Lowe then made contact with [VICTIM #1] (W/F [REDACTED BY AGENCY]) and [VICTIM #2] (W/M [REDACTED BY AGENCY]).
[VICTIM #2] stated he and [VICTIM #1] who is Roy Smith’s [REDACTED BY AGENCY] wife was threatened after they would not give him the key to the other residence on the property.
Deputy Lowe then got on his public address (PA) to give Roy verbal commands to come out of the residence with his hands in the air.
After multiple attempts, Deputy Lowe then attempted to use his county issued cell phone and call Roy. Roy eventually came out with his hands up. Deputies Clark #234 and Reeves #238 were able to place handcuffs on Roy and detain him.
Roy was read his Miranda Rights and agreed to speak with Deputy Lowe.
Roy stated “I knew they were going to call 911”. Deputy Lowe asked Roy why would they be calling 911. Roy then stated “because I threatened to kill them if they did not give me the key”.
Roy was walked up to the front of my patrol car while a Deputy stood by with him.
Deputy Lowe then went and spoke with [VICTIM #1] and [VICTIM #2] to gather more information.
Deputy Lowe asked [VICTIM #2] and [VICTIM #1] about a key Roy was wanting. [VICTIM #1] stated the residence behind her business belongs to her and Roy as well. [VICTIM #1] stated she gave the key to [VICTIM #2] after he went to the residence multiple times and would turn the furnace on with on air blowing through the vents. [VICTIM #1] stated Roy has done this in the past and became very dehydrated so to keep Roy from going into the home she gave the key to [VICTIM #2].
[VICTIM #1] and [VICTIM #2] stated after Roy asked for the key and was told no he told both of them he would kill them.
[VICTIM #1] and [VICTIM #2] stated Roy then went into the main residence and shut the door locking the door knob. [VICTIM #1] stated she went to unlock the door when [VICTIM #2] pulled her away from the door. [VICTIM #2] stated while he was standing close to [VICTIM #1] he saw a block object that appeared to be a rifle sticking out the hole for the dead bolt lock.
Deputy Lowe then went and asked Roy if he had anything in his hands when he was behind the door of the residence. Roy stated he did have a .22 caliber rifle.
Deputy Lowe asked [VICTIM #1] if he could go in and take a look at the rifles. [VICTIM #1] allowed Deputy Lowe to look at the rifles in the residence. There were two rifles that were .22 caliber. One had a silver barrel and was empty. The second rifle had a black barrel with 17 rounds in the magazine and 1 in the chamber. Deputy Lowe cleared the rifle and removed all rounds out of the magazine.
Deputy Lowe asked [VICTIM #2] and [VICTIM #1] what color was the barrel sticking out the hole. [VICTIM #2] stated black and [VICTIM #1] stated she did not know there was a barrel sticking out the hole until [VICTIM #2] moved her out of the way and told her.
Deputy Lowe went back to Roy and asked him which .22 rifle did he have. Roy stated it was the rifle with the black barrel.
[VICTIM #1] stated after [VICTIM #2] pulled her away from the door, she went to her place of business on the property and retrieved her .22 pistol. The pistol is a Black Ruger .22 caliber (S/N 18-64398).
The pistol was turned back over to [VICTIM #1].
EMS was requested to look over Roy before being transported to Spalding County Detention. Deputy Reeves checked Roy for any weapons and contraband before being placed in the back seat of his patrol car and transported to Spalding Detention.
[VICTIM #1] and [VICTIM #2] both filled out statement forms.
While speaking with [VICTIM #1] she stated earlier this month before Roy went to the Veteran Affairs (VA) office in Zebulon, Roy wrapped a cord around her neck. [VICTIM #1] stated Roy went to the VA August 6, 2026 and was discharged on August 19, 2026.
[VICTIM #1] stated when Roy wrapped the cord around her neck and told her he was going to kill her.
The Glenfield Mod60 (S/N 70188970) was taken for evidence. The rifle was placed into an evidence locker with the lock secured.
Roy Smith (W/M [REDACTED BY AGENCY]) was arrested for Terroristic Threats, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony.
Warrant numbers: 26-EW-004965, 26-EW-004966, 26-EW-004967
Judge S. Parks was the presiding judge to sign the warrants on August 31, 2026, at 0814 hours.
[End of Narrative]
All information is sourced directly from the official, public court database. Case history is organized and curated by The Georgia Gazette staff. The “What this means:” explanations are written by AI and reviewed by our staff before publishing.
Court records are subject to change at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors or omissions. Nothing here is legal advice. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Case History:
9/1/26
FIRST APPEARANCE HEARING HELD FOR ROY ERNEST SMITH
What this means: Roy Ernest Smith appeared before Judge Brennan T. MacDowell in the Magistrate Court of Spalding County for his first appearance hearing. This is the initial court proceeding after an arrest where a judge reviews the charges and sets bond. The court determined that Smith’s case would be bound over to the Superior Court of Spalding County. He is accused of Terroristic Threats, Aggravated Assault with a weapon, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime. Bond was set at $5,000 on the Terroristic Threats charge, $15,000 on the Aggravated Assault charge, and $5,000 on the Possession of a Firearm charge, for a total bond of $25,000. The arrest warrants — numbered 26-EW-004965, 26-EW-004966, and 26-EW-004967 — were issued the same day as the hearing. Deputy Christopher R. Lowe is listed as the arresting officer.
9/22/26
PRELIMINARY HEARING SCHEDULED FOR ROY ERNEST SMITH
What this means: A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Roy Ernest Smith on September 22, 2026, at 8:00 AM in Spalding County. A preliminary hearing is a proceeding where a judge determines whether there is enough evidence to require the defendant to stand trial. This hearing is a standard step between the initial arrest and any formal indictment or trial proceedings in Superior Court.
9/23/26
DEFENSE ATTORNEY ENTERS APPEARANCE FOR ROY ERNEST SMITH
What this means: William Imhoff, an Assistant Public Defender with the Griffin Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office, formally entered his appearance as Roy Ernest Smith’s attorney of record in Superior Court Case No. 26FAH-1654 SLB. This filing, dated September 23, 2026, and filed with the Spalding County Superior Court, means Imhoff is now the official defense attorney on the case. A copy was served on the prosecutor by hand-delivery or regular mail.