James Hooks

Name:
Hooks, James

Date of Booking:
03/21/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
BURGLARY – 1ST DEGREE (FELONY)

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.]

[NARRATIVE #1 March 21, 2026]

On 3/21/26 at approximately 0830 hours Cpl. Callaway was dispatched to [100 BLOCK] Norwood Rogers Road Collins, Tattnall County, Georgia in reference to a burglary. Upon arrival Cpl. Callaway made contact with [Mr]. [VICTIM #1] and Mrs. [VICTIM #2].

Mr. [VICTIM #1] stated that on 3/21/26 at approximately 0400 hours he saw a male subject on his security camera taking items from his unfinished house. Mr. [VICTIM #1] stated that he and Mrs. [VICTIM #2] came to the house at approximately 0830 and saw that the offender was still on scene. Mr. [VICTIM #1] stated that the male subject, later identified as Mr. James Hooks, got into his vehicle and started to drive away from the house towards him.

Mr. [VICTIM #1] stated that he stepped out of his truck with a firearm pointed to the ground. Mr. [VICTIM #1] explained that Mr. Hooks then began to speed up and Mr. [VICTIM #1] then shot a round into the ground. Mr. [VICTIM #1] stated that Mr. Hooks then turned the vehicle towards where Mrs. [VICTIM #2] was standing and continued forward. Mr. [VICTIM #1] stated that he then began running after the vehicle and shot his firearm at the vehicle and tires. Mr. [VICTIM #1] stated that Mrs. [VICTIM #2] was able to jump out of the way of the vehicle.

Mrs. [VICTIM #2] stated essentially the same thing. Mr. and Mrs. [VICTIM #2] stated that they saw several items missing from the garage area. The list is as follows: Six bathroom faucets, a bathroom sink, a kitchen faucet, exterior lights, toilet paper holders and rings, a seventy inch Hunter ceiling fan, and a box of shower heads. Mr. [VICTIM #1] stated that he believes the total to be around three thousand dollars. Cpl. Callaway then began taking photographs with his county issued phone. Cpl. Callaway observed that there was a strap cut off of the oven that was connected to a dolly.

Due to the nature of the case Sgt. Brown contacted Tattnall County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division Investigator Nease. Before Investigator Nease’s arrival Cpl. Callaway secured the crime scene with crime scene tape while Sgt. Brown continued to speak with Mr. and Mrs. [VICTIM #2]. The scene was turned over to Investigator Nease upon his arrival. Cpl. Callaway’s county issued body camera was recording during this incident.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 March 21, 2026]

After Investigator Nease’s arrival Cpl. Callaway was informed by Evans County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Henry that on 03/20/26 the suspects vehicle was at the scrap yard in Evans County. Deputy Henry stated that the clerk recognized the vehicle and knows that Mr. Hooks is the subject that is the primary driver due to him selling them scrap metal. Deputy Henry gave his information to investigator Nease.

Cpl. Callaway and Investigator Nease where informed that Candler County made contact with Mr. Hooks and placed him under arrest at [600 BLOCK] Spell Road, Candler County, outside of Metter Georgia.

Cpl. Callaway then went to [600 BLOCK] Spell Road to assist Investigator Williams with transporting items that possibly belonged to Mr and Mrs. [VICTIM #2]. However some items did not belong to Mr. and Mrs, [VICTIM #2]. Investigator Williams did find several of the smaller items that were stolen from Mr. and Mrs. [VICTIM #2].

Cpl. Callaway then transported Mr. Hooks to the Tattnall County Jail. Mr. Hooks was then turned over to the jail staff.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #3 March 21, 2026]

On 03/21/26 at 0855 hours, Sergeant Brown met with both victims [VICTIM #1] and [VICTIM #2], the victims’ friend, [WITNESS #1], and Corporal Callaway at an unfinished new home construction site located at [100 BLOCK] Norwood Rogers Road Collins, Georgia regarding a theft where a discharged firearm was involved. Prior to deputies arrival, the Tattnall County 911 operator relayed, via computer aided dispatch (CAD) notes, the following:

“Caller advised a white male with a beard in a 4 door car beige with missing panel last of the 10-28 [REDACTED], was on their property stealing construction material. Caller advised when they approached the vehicle he tried to tun them over and her husband shot one of the tires out of the vehicle as it was leaving last seen going towards Hillview road”

Shortly after speaking with Cpl Callaway, Sgt Brown spoke to [WITNESS #1] who stated that prior to our arrival, his wife, called him and said that [VICTIM #2] (victim #2) called her and asked her to send help to [100 BLOCK] Norwood Rogers Road Collins, Georgia. [WITNESS #1] stated that when his wife called him, he was already near [100 BLOCK] on Norwood Rogers Road in his vehicle traveling toward Hill view Road. [WITNESS #1] stated that upon his arrival, the suspect was not on scene and that he did pass a vehicle prior to his arrival.

Sgt. Brown notified the Tattnall County Criminal Investigation Division on call investigator at approximately 0900 hours on 03/21/26.

[WITNESS #1] stated that he was able to reach out to an unknown source in Evans County and Candler County to check against the vehicle description and the description of the white male given by the victims. [WITNESS #1]’ source was able to provide a copy of a Georgia drivers license that list the name of James C Nicholis Hooks and stated that an Evans County Deputy was familiar with Hooks. [WITNESS #1] sent the photograph that he obtained to Sgt Brown via text message.

On 03/21/26 at 1012 hours, Sgt Brown received a phone call from Deputy Thompson, an Candler County Deputy, who stated that Hooks was located at the address listed on the Georgia drivers license along with the vehicle matching the description given. Deputy Thompson stated that a new black towel holder bar holder was at the location where Hooks was located. Deputy Thompson stated that several other items were located at the home.

Sgt Brown then spoke to [VICTIM #1] (victim #1) who stated that on 03/19/26 at approximately 1900 hours, his surveillance camera capture video of a white male on his property then captured the same white male again on 03/21/26 at approximately 0430 hours. [VICTIM #1] stated that due to his camera recording the white male carrying a large box on 03/21/26 at approximately 0430 hours, he borrowed an enclosed trailer from his neighbor then he and his wife took it to [100 BLOCK] Norwood Rogers Road Collins, Georgia on 03/21/26 at approximately 0830 hours so that he could secure his belongings inside of it.

[VICTIM #1] stated that upon his arrival at 0830 hours, the white male who was previously recorded on his camera was at [100 BLOCK] Norwood Rogers Road Collins, Georgia. [VICTIM #1] stated that after their arrival, the white male was in his vehicle and driving in their direction from an area located just outside the garage of the home. [VICTIM #1] stated that after he got out of his vehicle, he put his left hand in the air yelling “stop” while he had his Glock 43 9mm semi-automatic hand gun (Serial# BKCS579) in his right hand pointed to the ground by his leg.

[VICTIM #1] stated that after trying to get the white male to stop his vehicle, the white male drove his vehicle directly toward him. [VICTIM #1] stated that while the male was attempting to hit him with his vehicle, he discharged his firearm at the suspects passenger’s side tires. [VICTIM #1] stated that at the point where he fired the initial shot, he was located between the green electrical control box and the garage while his wife was located outside of the passenger’s side of the truck that both arrived in which was parked between the green electrical control box and Norwood Rogers Road.

[VICTIM #1] stated that after firing his gun, the white male drove around him then proceeded directly towards his wife. [VICTIM #1] stated that due to the white male driving his vehicle toward his wife, he fired additional shots in the direction of the vehicle. [VICTIM #1] and [VICTIM #2] both stated that they did not know if [VICTIM #1] struck any part of the suspect’s vehicle or if he struck the suspect as a result of discharging his firearm.

[VICTIM #1]’s firearm and magazine was voluntarily given to Sgt Brown by [VICTIM #1] and turned over to CID. The scene was secured, evidence marked then turned over to CID.

[End of Narrative]