James Smith

Name:
SMITH, JAMES J JR

Date of Booking:
08/26/2024

Reason(s) For Booking:
Simple Battery

Aggravated Assault

Battery

Burglary

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 the above date and time, I was dispatched to the listed address in reference to a dispute. Upon arrival I made contact with two subjects, later Identified as [VICTIM #1] and James Smith, arguing on the side walk leading up to the entrance of the residence. As I approached them, I shined my flashlight in their direction to observe both of them to have bloody lacerations on their faces and body in multiple areas. [VICTIM #1] appeared to have a swollen, bloody lip and also appeared to have blood vessels busted in her left eye. I also observed a bloody gash on her right wrist. James had a bloody abrasion above his right eye. Both began to raise their voices toward each other and I advised James to have a seat in a chair sitting in the front yard to which he complied.

[VICTIM #1] then stepped inside the residence as I followed. Upon entering, I observed multiple droplets of blood near the entrance of the residence and more droplets in various places on the floor in the living room. Another female, [REDACTED], was also present in the living room at this time. [REDACTED] advised she was the daughter of both James and [VICTIM #1].

I then began speaking with [VICTIM #1] about what had occurred. [VICTIM #1] went on to say that earlier in the day, they had a small gathering at the residence with some family. She advised that James had called her and told her to come pick him up from his sisters house on Cook Street to also come hang out with them. [VICTIM #1] further advised that James had been disputing with her lately and accusing [VICTIM #1] of “fooling around” with other men. She stated the arguments concerning this topic have been ongoing for a while. After explaining this top me, she advised that James had appeared angry this date and stated that after her brother had left the gathering, that James claimed he wanted to fight her.

[VICTIM #1] further stated she then left the house and went to the store for a while in an attempt to let him settle down. Once she had decided to return, she stated that she observed that James had left her front door open and texted him to ask him why he had done this. This seemingly made James angry and [VICTIM #1] advised that he began calling her repeatedly and eventually texted her stating “Bi*ch, tonight is the night”. [VICTIM #1] then advised she told James “I’m going to to call the police” to which he responded “I don’t give a damn. I want to go to jail”.

[VICTIM #1] then continued and advised that when she returned home, she saw James down the street in front of where their daughter currently stays on Lacy Street. She advised she knew that when she got home that he would try to come back into the house. She stated she entered the residence and locked her screen door as well as closed and locked the main entry door. After doing this [VICTIM #1] advised that she was not sure how, but James had unlocked the screen door and then kicked the main door in, forcing entry into the residence. She then went on to say that she was about to call 911 at that point, but that before she could, he again stated, “Bi*ch, I told you that tonight was the night” and began striking her. She stated he took her into the rear bedroom and continued kicking and punching her while she was being pinned down.

She further advised she attempted to defend herself but that it was difficult considering she was being pinned down. She advised she told James, “I aint’ trying to do this JJ, I ain’t even trying to have you locked up. You need to just go home”. She then continued and advised that James stated, “Tonight is the night. I’ m tired of you doing this sh*t to me”. [VICTIM #1] clarified that he was referring to [VICTIM #1] allegedly “fooling around” with other men as stated earlier in this report. She then advised that after he had stopped striking her, she came into the living room area to sit down, but then decided to go to her daughters residence down the street to get help. She advised she beat on the door and told her daughter to call the police.

I then spoke with James and asked him what had occurred. Obviously intoxicated, James advised, “whatever she said, is right” and then stuck out his hands as if he wanted me to put him in handcuffs. I then explained to James that there is two sides to every story and I needed him to explain what had occurred. He then went on to say, “Whatever she said I did, I did”. I then address the fact that [VICTIM #1] had stated James had forced entry into the residence and he told me to look at the lock and stated, “Does it looked like I kicked the door in?” to which I advised James that it did. I observed the door frame to have a large crack in it with a piece of wood hanging off to the point where it would completely break if I had attempted to pull on it.

It was determined at that time that there was sufficient probable cause to place James under arrest. He was placed in double locked handcuffs behind his back and escorted to Ofc. Obannon’s patrol vehicle. It was at that time that Ofc. Obannon notified me that [VICTIM #1] had marks around her neck as well.

I then went back into the residence and asked [VICTIM #1] if James had put his hands around her throat to which she stated that he had. When asked how she felt when this occurred, she stated, “I was gagging. I couldn’t hardly breath. I was about to go out. I had to lay down in the floor to catch my breath”. She also stated she felt as if she was going to black out. I then exited the residence and went to Monroe PD to finger print James who was transported by Ofc. Obannon. After being finger printed, I transported James to the Walton County jail where I was advised by medical staff that he needed to be taken to the hospital for treatment before being booked in.

I then transported James to Piedmont Walton where he was treated and cleared by the hospital staff and returned to the jail where James was turned over to the jail staff for processing. After he was in the custody of the jail staff, I returned to service without incident.

Photos of the injuries observed uploaded to the files portion of this report.

[End of Narrative]